Republicans fed up with dysfunction are hopeful Day 21 will result in a House speaker despite NO clear path: One lawmaker drops out in the eight-way race

Republicans were optimistic that they might have a speaker of the House of Representatives by Tuesday evening.

On Monday, the GOP conference gathered for a candidates forum to hear from the nine Republicans who threw their names in the hat for the top job, but Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., dropped out of the running at the top of the ticket. meeting.

“I think we’re going to resolve this tomorrow night,” Rep. Don Bacon, a moderate Nebraskan who voted against Jordan last week, told reporters.

Asked if he agreed that the process would be completed by Tuesday evening, speaker candidate Kevin Hern, R-Okla., told DailyMail.com: “Yes, I do.”

Whip Tom Emmer is an early favorite in the speaker’s race

Florida Rep. Byron Donalds has also received support

“I think it’s possible,” said Rep. Byron Donalds, another speaker candidate.

“I don’t know if anyone wants to continue beyond tomorrow,” said Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas. “We report and work for the American people, and they have said, ‘Get your house in order.'”

Republicans have fielded two candidates for speaker since the historic impeachment of Kevin McCarthy. First, Majority Leader Steve Scalise won a conference vote before dropping out due to opposition, then Jim Jordan tried to win the job and lost three votes on the floor.

In a step toward a more unified direction, each candidate in the running pledged to support whoever wins a conference vote in the House of Representatives.

However, not every member has signed this pledge. “I did not sign the pledge,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who is supporting Donalds. “I think we need to focus on making sure that someone is going to lead this party in the right direction.”

Republicans are far from united behind one candidate.

Whip Tom Emmer, the number three Republican of the House of Representatives, is the early favorite and has already launched an election campaign. Donalds, a member of the Freedom Caucus from Florida, has drawn support from the conference’s right wing.

“Donalds has the rawest talent of anyone. I think he could be president in 2030,” said Fallon, who is backing GOP conference vice chairman Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La.

When asked if he agreed that the process would be completed by Tuesday evening, speaker candidate Kevin Hern told DailyMail.com: “Yes, I do.”

“I think the headwind that (Donalds) is facing is that he’s been here for three years and there may be a backlash from the Freedom Caucus.”

Rep. Matt Gaetz said he was promised the “complete release” of the Jan. 6 tapes by every candidate in the room, but was “most encouraged” by the candidates who planned single-issue spending and promised the aid not to link Israel and Ukraine together. .

Rep. Dusty Johnson, a pragmatist from South Dakota, was less optimistic about finding a speaker by Tuesday.

“I like to be an optimist, but I can tell you that the past four weeks haven’t given me much reason to be optimistic that Republicans will get it done. We continue to see these tight margins,” he said.

The House of Representatives has been in chaos for nearly a month after eight Republicans led by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., voted to impeach former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in an unprecedented move.

Since then, Republicans have yet to find a candidate who can secure 217 Republican votes — the magic number needed to take the top leadership spot. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, tried and failed three times last week after Majority Leader Steve Scalise withdrew before his nomination was even voted on.

The next Republican speaker candidate can afford to lose just four votes, creating a near-impossible task in a divided conference.

A handful of candidates have gained support: Whip Tom Emmer, the House of Representatives’ third-ranking Republican, has the public support of a half-dozen colleagues, including former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Donalds has received support from key Freedom Caucus member, Texas Rep. Chip Roy, as well as two holdouts against Jordan: Florida Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart and Carlos Gimenez, and fellow Florian Cory Mills.

GOP Rep. Jack Bergman has received messages of support from a handful of fellow Michiganders.

Hern, a McDonald’s franchisee, handed out burgers and campaign literature Monday for his bid for the job. He also reportedly hands out personalized gifts to members to secure their votes.

A few other, lesser-known names have jumped into the fray: Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., vice chairman of the GOP conference, Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., who ran against Jordan for speaker last week, Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., and Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas.