On Saturday, Oklahoma Republican Representative Kevin Hern announced that he would run for speaker of the House.
The House voted Tuesday to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House after eight House Republicans joined 208 Democrats, a move initiated by Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida. According to a Dear Colleague letter, Hern decided not to run for speaker of the House after consulting with all members of the House Republican Conference.
“I’ve been on the phone 50+ hours with Republican members and what’s clear is we all want UNITY. I believe a three-man race for Speaker will create even more division and make it harder to elect a Speaker,” Hern tweeted.
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“Following the results of the vote on Tuesday, many of you reached out to me encouraging me to run for Speaker of the House. I prayerfully considered those conversations, and over the past four days have carefully examined the question of who our next Speaker should be and whether I should announce my candidacy for the role,” Hern wrote in a letter.
Republican Ohio Representative Jim Jordan declared his candidacy for speaker on October 4. Former Republican President Donald Trump endorsed Jordan’s bid for House speaker on Friday after he had previously hinted that day that he might seek the position.
“I called, texted, or met in-person with all 221 members of the House Republican Conference, asking each member what they want to see in the next Speaker and how we can move forward as a Majority. The overwhelming response I heard from you is that we must unify and come out of this situation stronger as a Majority. While many of you emphasized the necessity for new blood in our leadership, the need for unity comes first and foremost,” Hern said in the letter.
Republican Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise also announced his bid for the speakership on Oct. 4.
McCarthy stated that he would not seek the position of House speaker on Tuesday.
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