Exclusive: A Dozen Republicans Oppose Tom Emmer as Speaker

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) is facing significant opposition from at least 12 GOP members in his bid to become Speaker of the House.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) is facing significant opposition in his bid to become Speaker of the House, according to sources within the GOP. At least 12 Republican members have privately pledged their opposition to Emmer, with some sources suggesting that the number may be even higher. This growing opposition comes after Emmer launched his candidacy following the removal of House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) as Speaker-designate. Jordan faced opposition from 25 members throughout the week, led by establishment politicians such as House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX).

There are now calls for Granger to lose her committee chair position due to her votes against the will of the House GOP conference and the Republican Party. Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) has called for her removal, and Speakership candidates are expected to address this issue. Despite repeated requests for comment, Emmer's office has not weighed in on the matter.

The process for the next Speakership election is set to begin soon, with members required to declare their candidacy by Sunday. A candidate forum will be held on Monday, followed by a vote on Tuesday. The nominee must then secure 217 votes on the House floor. However, it appears that Emmer does not have a viable pathway to obtaining the necessary votes.

If Emmer were to be chosen as Speaker by the conference and attempt to go to the floor, it is likely that he would face significant opposition and potentially fare worse than Jordan or former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) did in floor votes. This is due in part to Emmer's lack of a relationship with former President Donald Trump. Multiple sources close to Trump have referred to Emmer as a "Never Trumper."

Critics of Emmer argue that he has failed to support Trump and America First policies. They point to his defense of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) during a Trump rally in 2019 as evidence of his lack of support for the former president. Despite an endorsement from McCarthy, Emmer faces an uphill battle in his bid for Speaker.

Emmer is not the only candidate running for Speaker, with several others, including Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK), Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), and Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), also vying for the position.

While Emmer remains hopeful that he can win over his opponents and unite the conference, the growing opposition and lack of support from Trump allies make this outcome unlikely.