Some House Republicans who voted to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., appear open to Majority Whip Tom Emmer\u2019s candidacy for the gavel.<\/p>\n
Emmer is one of several Republicans gunning for the speaker\u2019s gavel after the last nominee, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, failed to secure enough votes to ascend to the top House office.<\/p>\n
The majority whip rolled into Tuesday morning\u2019s votes with an endorsement from McCarthy, and at least two of the members who ousted the now-former speaker are open to an Emmer candidacy.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., told Fox News Digital that the congressman has not made a public endorsement of any candidate yet but is close to Emmer and voted for the whip several times on the House floor during last week\u2019s three rounds of balloting.<\/p>\n
Tennessee GOP Rep. Tim Burchett\u2019s spokesperson told Fox News Digital that, while the congressman has not specifically endorsed Emmer, he would vote for any candidate that can get the 217 votes needed to get the speakership \u2014 including the whip.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., told Fox News Digital the congressman plans to support whoever the GOP nominee ends up being.<\/p>\n
Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs\u2019 spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the congressman isn\u2019t publicly revealing who he is supporting at the moment.<\/p>\n
The offices of GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, Bob Good of Virginia, and Eli Crane of Arizona did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital\u2019s requests for comment.<\/p>\n
Emmer is currently the front-runner in the internal contest that began voting on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n
The Minnesota Republican won 78 votes in the first round on Tuesday morning, with the closest second candidate \u2014 Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla. \u2014 securing just 29.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s likely to take several rounds of voting \u2013 a candidate must win a conference majority to be named speaker-designate under current House GOP Conference rules.<\/p>\n
If no candidate manages to win a majority during a given round, the person with the least amount of votes is withdrawn from the race and another round is held.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It\u2019s unclear whether Emmer will succeed where Jordan and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., failed \u2014 convincing the various factions within the GOP to unite around his leadership.<\/p>\n
\u2018He is the right person for the job. He can unite the conference,\u2019 McCarthy said of Emmer. \u2018He understands the dynamics of the conference. He also understands what it takes to win and keep a majority.\u2019<\/p>\n
Emmer said he would use teamwork, communication and respect to build on the success Republicans had taking back the House majority in 2022 and scoring legislative wins.<\/p>\n
\u2018Our Conference remains at a crossroads, and the deck is stacked against us. We have no choice but to fight like hell to hold on to our House majority and deliver on our conservative agenda,\u2019 Emmer told Republican members of Congress in a letter Saturday about his bid for the speaker\u2019s gavel.<\/p>\n
The election comes three weeks after McCarthy\u2019s ouster from the top job, the first time in history the House of Representatives removed their leader in the middle of a congressional term.<\/p>\n
Fox News Digital\u2019s Elizabeth Elkind, Adam Shaw, and Thomas Phippen contributed reporting.<\/p>\n