Tom Emmer Selected as House Republicans' New Speaker Despite Looming Challenges

House Republicans selected Rep. Tom Emmer as their new candidate for speaker on Tuesday. However, it became evident that Emmer, a Minnesota Republican, does not have the necessary 217 votes to secure the position. The nominee was chosen through a secret ballot process conducted in a closed-door meeting, where Emmer, the House majority whip, emerged victorious among several other contenders. Following his nomination, Emmer requested a roll call vote to publicly disclose members' positions and identify those who oppose his candidacy.

Rep. Brandon Williams, a New York Republican, informed CNNs Manu Raju that Emmer faced strong opposition with 26 votes against him during the roll call vote. Williams added that Emmer is now working to address the concerns raised by those members in order to secure their support on the House floor, as losing such a substantial number of votes would greatly hinder his chances of becoming the gavel holder.

House Republicans are under increasing pressure to elect a new speaker following the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. This has resulted in a state of paralysis within the House. Representative Steve Womack from Arkansas has expressed that there is notable opposition to Emmer in the room. He suggested that it will be up to Emmer to decide if he wants to proceed to the floor, but it is likely that he will want to meet with those who are refusing to cooperate and assess their determination.

McCarthy's endorsement of Emmer provided an early boost to his campaign, but the Minnesota Republican is now facing significant challenges within the divided GOP conference and a slim majority. While winning a majority within the conference to become the nominee for speaker is a lesser obstacle, obtaining the gavel on the floor necessitates a majority from the entire chamber.

In addition, Emmer, who supported the certification of the 2020 election, has been criticized by certain allies of former President Donald Trump. Despite a friendly phone conversation with the former president over the weekend, Trump shared attacks against Emmer on Truth Social Monday night.

When questioned about Trump, Emmer stated that they have a positive relationship after leaving a GOP conference meeting on Monday night.

On Tuesday, members participated in a series of secret ballots, eliminating the candidate with the lowest number of votes in each round. The other candidates in the race were Reps. Mike Johnson, Kevin Hern, Byron Donalds, Austin Scott, Jack Bergman, and Pete Sessions.

After Republicans gathered to vote for a nominee, Rep. Gary Palmer of Alabama decided to withdraw from the race on Tuesday morning.

Expressing his optimism, House Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole stated on Tuesday that he believes Republicans will be able to unite around a candidate after weeks of internal division and conflict.

"People seem a bit worn out and the constant conflict is coming to an end," stated Cole, an Oklahoma Republican. "I believe we will unite behind someone and find a strong candidate."

When questioned about certain individuals who have remained silent on whether they would support Emmer as the nominee, Cole mentioned that at a certain stage, members must make a decision and say that things have reached a limit.

"If you want to permanently be in disfavor, this is one of the most effective methods I know to achieve that," he stated. "Now is the moment for individuals to unite and support whichever candidate receives the majority vote in the conference."

On Monday, Republicans convened for the candidate forum, which also took place privately. Meuser, who had been competing, withdrew his candidacy during that gathering.

House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul from Texas expressed his concern to CNN's Manu Raju on Monday, stating that it will pose a significant challenge to secure the necessary 217 votes on the floor. However, he emphasized the importance of achieving this objective. In a similar vein, GOP Representative Vern Buchanan from Florida cautioned that if the eventual nominee fails to attain the required 217 votes, the conference may need to collaborate with Democrats.

"It's not good. With a certain mindset prevailing, many individuals are reluctant to collaborate with Democrats. However, it may reach a point where it becomes the only feasible option," Buchanan expressed. "It is imperative for us to reopen the government, as people are extremely frustrated and disturbed."

Note: This story has been updated with additional information and developments.

CNNs Manu Raju and Sam Fossum contributed to this report.