WCCO Radio has confirmed a national report that Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer (R) is seeking the U.S. House speakership after Ohio's Jim Jordan's third attempt failed earlier Friday.
Emmer made it official on Saturday, posting his decision on social media.
Reporter Jake Sherman at Punch Bowl News originally tweeted that Emmer has told members of the House Republican Conference that he will seek the nomination for Speaker. Sherman said that if that happens, he'll immediately become the frontrunner.
A source tells WCCO's Laura Oakes that Emmer is indeed making calls for the Speakership.
On Sunday, former speaker Kevin McCarthy backed Emmer during an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press.
“He sets himself, head and shoulders, above all those others who want to run. We need to get him elected this week, and move on, and bring not just party together; but focus on what this country needs most,” McCarthy said Sunday morning.
There are reports that at least seven other Republican may jump in, but Emmer has the advantage of having run a leadership race before as the House Majority Whip, and "has a base of support."
Republicans abruptly dropped Rep. Jim Jordan on Friday as their nominee for House speaker, making the decision during a closed-door session after the hard-edged ally of Donald Trump failed badly on a third ballot for the gavel.
The outcome left Republicans dejected, frustrated and sinking deeper into turmoil, another week without a House speaker bordering on a full-blown crisis. House Republicans have no realistic or working plan to unite the fractured GOP majority, elect a new speaker and return to the work of Congress that has been languishing since hard-liners ousted Kevin McCarthy at the start of the month.