Rep. Kevin Hern said he’s undecided on whether to launch a bid for House speaker but won’t participate in a televised debate with two declared candidates next week, saying it’s the wrong forum.
Mr. Hern, Oklahoma Republican, took to social media to drop out of a Fox News-hosted debate in which he, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio were slated to appear.
“I still haven’t made a decision on my candidacy for speaker, but I know one thing for sure. I will not be participating in the televised debate,” Mr. Hern said on X. “We need to make this decision as a conference, not on TV. The Republican conference needs a family discussion.”
Mr. Hern, who is chair of the 150-plus member Republican Study Committee, is speaking with every member of the Republican conference to gauge support for a gavel bid.
Roughly a quarter of lawmakers in the conference have publicly thrown support behind either Mr. Scalise or Mr. Jordan, but there is still no clear favorite among lawmakers.
Republicans are slated to meet Monday. Temporary speaker Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina has tentatively scheduled a candidate forum for Tuesday, and conference-only nominee election on Wednesday.
• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.
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