As the deadline for submission of names for the House Speaker race approaches, Republican candidates are scrambling to unite the divided party. With multiple candidates and no clear consensus, there seems to be no easy solution to this ongoing issue. However, one Congressman’s pledge may be the key to restoring unity within the party and getting the House back to work.
Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE) has proposed a pledge for the speaker candidates, requiring them to commit to supporting whomever the conference nominates as their candidate. The pledge has gained significant traction with five out of the seven declared candidates agreeing to sign it. This includes Reps. Austin Scott (GA), Mike Johnson (LA), Pete Sessions (TX), Jack Bergman (MI), and Kevin Hern (OK), who are all running for the leadership position. Their signatures, along with the support of the chair of the Republican Study Committee, have given Flood’s pledge a strong boost.
NEW: There’s a new effort underway to get the House GOP to unite behind the next R who wins speaker nomination in Tuesday forum.
Rep. Flood (R-Neb.) is organizing a bloc of Rs who will withhold support from candidates unless they press their supporters to sign a pledge to do so pic.twitter.com/ykI3nDOMFK
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) October 20, 2023
However, two candidates have yet to sign the pledge. Rep. Byron Donalds (FL) and Majority Whip Tom Emmer (MN) have not committed to the promise, with some speculating that they may be considering a run for the position themselves. But with the majority of candidates already signing on, it seems that the pledge may sway the election in one direction.
Not everyone is on board with the pledge, though. Former Trump administration official Russ Vought has spoken out against it, calling it “ridiculous.” However, the urgency of getting a Speaker elected and the upcoming issues that need to be addressed seem to outweigh the objections of a few.
This is a ridiculous letter and shouldn’t be signed. Cartel government away from the floor of the House. https://t.co/n9826BVhfO
— Russ Vought (@russvought) October 21, 2023
The pressure to elect a Speaker is mounting as the House faces a looming government shutdown and international crises, including the recent conflict between Hamas and Israel. With the House unable to fully function without a Speaker in place, the need for cooperation and quick decision-making is at an all-time high.
Meanwhile, a group of eight Republican members who joined with Democrats in ousting Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as speaker have written a letter expressing their support for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) as the next Speaker. The letter also states that those members are willing to accept any consequences, including censure and removal from committee assignments, for their actions. However, a revised letter was later sent out, removing one of the signatories, Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO).
Super snarky McClintock letter to the 8 who voted to oust McCarthy… “we truly don’t deserve you.”
Notes the world burning too pic.twitter.com/2qgK668ikJ
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) October 21, 2023
Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) has responded to the letter with a sarcastic tone, stating that the party does not deserve such members and highlighting the current state of national paralysis and international crises that the House is facing without a Speaker in place.
As the deadline nears and the candidates continue to jockey for position, it remains to be seen if Flood’s pledge will be the key to ending the impasse and getting the House back on track. One thing is for sure, the party needs to come together and present a united front in order to effectively lead the House and address the pressing issues at hand.