Half a Dozen Candidates for Speaker Rush in After Jordan Dropped, McCarthy Makes New Endorsement

As RedState wrote earlier on Friday morning, the Republican House voted to drop speaker designee, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) from the running for the position after a third ballot showed Jordan had less support than in the second one:

NEWS: Jordan has LOST his designation as the GOP speaker nominee. Vote was 86-112.
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) October 20, 2023

This all came after a somewhat raucous Thursday evening meeting among the Republican members -- including those who represented the no votes -- and Jordan, garnered the House Judiciary Committee chairman no new supporters.

My colleague Jeff Charles wrote about the proceedings Friday morning:

CNN Capitol Hill reporter Melanie Zanona indicated in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that voting will conclude for the day and that other candidates “will have until noon Sunday to file to run.”

Now, several new puzzle pieces have appeared about the speakership race. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has endorsed House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) for speaker, according to original reporting by Punchbowl:

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is endorsing House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) for Speaker, The Hill can confirm.
Punchbowl News first reported that McCarthy said: “He is the right person for the job. He can unite the conference. He understand the dynamics of the conference. He also understands what it takes to win and keep a majority.”

🚨BREAKING -- KEVIN MCCARTHY is endorsing TOM EMMER for speaker.

"He is the right person for the job. He can unite the conference. He understands the dynamics of the conference. He also understands what it takes to win and keep a majority."

w @bresreports
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 20, 2023

But Emmer is just one of half a dozen candidates whose names have been put forward Friday. Here is the current confirmed list of names:

CONFIRMED PPL RUNNING FOR SPEAKER:

—Tom Emmer, Majority Whip
—Kevin Hern, RSC chair
—Byron Donalds, Freedom Caucus member
—Mike Johnson, vice conference chair & Judiciary member
—Jack Bergman, a former general
—Austin Scott, challenged Jordan last time
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) October 20, 2023

Shortly after that tweet, CNN's Zanona shared an update on some names that have also been floated (note: the tweet has since been deleted/removed):

Two others strongly considering:—Mark Green, Homeland Security Chairman & Freedom Caucus chair
—Jodey Arrington, Budget Chairman

I think I know the reason why, at least as far as one of the maybes. As I was writing this article, one of those named in the "considering running" list -- House Freedom Caucus member and chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) -- confirmed through his office that he will not place his name for nomination.

Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX) has also weighed in, saying that "he is mulling a bid for speaker," the Hill reported.

"I would say I am seriously considering and still praying about it,” he said, adding there were “a lot of people to talk to before that decision is made.” [...]
The Texas lawmaker said he would speak with the rest of his state's delegation and that “a number of members have asked us to consider it.”

There's now a new timeline on when voting will resume on who will win the speaker's gavel:

The Republican conference will hold a candidate forum at 6:30 p.m. Monday evening and vote on a new Speaker-designate Tuesday morning. Candidates must submit their names by noon on Sunday.

The New York Times reported that "some denounced [the new timeline on voting] as too delayed." Speaker Pro Tem McHenry explained the delay this way, referencing Scalise's abbreviated run as speaker designee: