Eight Republicans make their case for speaker’s job that no one has been able to win

Nearly three weeks have passed since the House was last open for business with an elected speaker, and on Monday night, lawmakers said they were determined to avoid a fourth week without one.

House Republicans were as divided as ever after hearing from eight candidates for speaker in a closed-door meeting in the Capitol. But they nonetheless planned to nominate a single candidate by Tuesday whom they hope could win the backing of 217 GOP lawmakers in a floor vote later this week.

“We’ve aired our grievances,” said Rep. Marc Molinaro, New York Republican. “And we are listening to the people we represent and they demand us to get back to work. And that means getting to 217. And governing.”

Each candidate had their own group of supporters, and none seemed close to garnering the near-unanimous backing of their party needed to secure the gavel in a House floor vote.

Former President Donald Trump, the prohibitive favorite in the Republican presidential primary, hasn’t endorsed anyone in the latest speaker’s race but suggested Monday it wouldn’t matter.

After three top GOP lawmakers failed to win enough support for speaker this month, Mr. Trump said, “There’s only one person that can do it all the way. Do you know who that is? Jesus Christ.”

House Republicans have been deeply divided over their leadership since a group of hard-line conservatives voting with all Democrats ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, California Republican, on Oct. 3.

Lawmakers have since then rejected both Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio.

On Monday, familiar lines of division were forming among lawmakers weighing the new line-up of candidates: Hard-line conservatives and fellow Floridians were coalescing around Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, a member of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus and a staunch supporter of Mr. Trump.

Another group of Republicans, some of whom previously backed Mr. Scalise, were throwing their support behind Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota, a Scalise ally.

Mr. Emmer is drawing opposition from hard-line Trump backers outside the Capitol, who point out he has refused to endorse Mr. Trump in the Republican presidential primary. Mr. Emmer said he’s not endorsing any GOP candidate in the presidential race.

Other candidates for speaker are forming their own base of support. Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma has picked up the backing of some of the members of the Republican Study Committee, the largest faction of conservative House GOP lawmakers, which he currently leads.

GOP Conference Vice Chairman Mike Johnson of Louisiana, and Reps. Austin Scott of Georgia, Pete Sessions of Texas, Jack Bergman of Minnesota and Gary Palmer of Alabama, are also running, according to a list provided by Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, of New York.

A ninth candidate, Rep. Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania, dropped out Monday.

Republicans will narrow the group of eight Tuesday in a series of closed-door votes that will eventually produce a single nominee who wins at least a majority of the GOP conference.

But that’s no guarantee the victor can win a majority of lawmakers on the House floor, where Democrats also cast a vote for speaker and plan to back Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. The Republican nominee can only afford to lose roughly four GOP votes thanks to the party’s slim majority.

In Mr. Jordan’s third attempt to win the gavel last week, he lost nearly two dozen votes.

Rep. Brett Guthrie, Kentucky Republican, wants to ensure whoever the GOP brings to the floor can win next time. All GOP candidates for speaker, he said, should sign a pledge to back whoever wins the nomination.

“Anybody asking for our vote should commit to supporting whoever wins,” Mr. Guthrie said. “I think that’s the only way we’re going to govern.”

Republicans have begun to panic over the speaker’s stalemate and are mulling a back-up plan to elect Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina to serve as temporary speaker. Mr. McHenry has been appointed to the role, but under House rules he is limited to conducting the speaker’s election unless he’s voted in by the House.

The House hasn’t been operational since Mr. McCarthy’s Oct. 3 ouster. Lawmakers must address new requests from President Biden to assist Ukraine and Israel in wartime and are facing a Nov. 17 federal spending deadline.

Mr. Trump endorsed Mr. Jordan in the last round but hasn’t ordained anyone of the list of eight. It may be impossible to pick a winner.  

“We’re looking at a lot of people. And you know, I’m sort of trying to stay out of that as much as possible,” Mr. Trump said Monday.

Mr. Jordan, whose endorsement could carry significant sway among the ultra-conservative wing, did not name a favorite.

“If he’s a Republican, I’ll back him,” Mr. Jordan said.