More than a half dozen Republicans have jumped into the race for House speaker now that Rep. Jim Jordan is out of the running.
House Republicans have burned through two speaker designates — Mr. Jordan and Majority Leader Steve Scalise — since eight GOP rebels joined with Democrats to eject Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Oct. 3.
Here is who will be vying for the nomination when House Republicans hold a closed-door candidates forum on Monday:
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota
Age: 62
Served in the House since 2015
As the No. 3 GOP leader, Mr. Emmer won the support of his peers for the whip race in January and has the endorsement of Mr. McCarthy, though Mr. Scalise had enough support to become majority leader and Mr. Jordan had Mr. McCarthy’s endorsement.
Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma
Age: 61
Served in the House since 2018
Mr. Hern is the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, which boasts more than 150 members to rank as the House’s largest GOP caucus. He previously floated a bid for the gavel immediately after the ouster of Mr. McCarthy but decided against it. He is promoting his business background as a unique qualifier to lead the chamber.
Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia
Age: 53
Served in the House since 2011
Mr. Scott ran for the speaker nomination against Mr. Jordan in a bid considered by many conservatives to be a proxy for Mr. Scalise. Despite the eleventh-hour nature of Mr. Scott’s previous candidacy, he still earned 81 votes.
Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida
Age: 44
Served in the House since 2021
Mr. Donalds quickly became a popular lawmaker among his GOP colleagues, especially among fellow members of the House Freedom Caucus. His name was offered as an alternative to Mr. McCarthy in the floor votes for speaker in January. Mr. Donalds has made attempts to bridge the divide in the conference between hardline conservatives and more moderate members. He also received votes for speaker in the three House floor votes brought up for Mr. Jordan.
Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana
Age: 51
Served in the House since 2017
Mr. Johnson serves as the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference and acts as an assistant whip to Mr. Emmer. He also chaired the Republican Study Committee from 2019 to 2021.
Rep. Jack Bergman of Michigan
Age: 76
Served in the House since 2017
Mr. Bergman has not served in House leadership nor enjoyed the ascendant status of Mr. Donalds. He brings to the race a distinguished career in the Marine Corps, from which he retired with the rank of lieutenant general after four decades of service.
Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas
Age: 68
Served in the House from 1997 to 2019 and again since 2021.
Mr. Sessions boasts the longest tenure in Congress of any of the candidates vying for the gavel. He has chaired the House Rules Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee, which works to elect the party’s members to the House. The GOP scooped up 63 seats and the majority in 2010 under Mr. Sessions’ watch as NRCC chair, one of the largest pickups for the conference in history.
• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.
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