Majority Whip Tom Emmer has won the second GOP speakership ballot, while Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) was eliminated.
House Republicans will continue voting until one member wins a majority. Emmer has now secured the most votes on two ballots in a row in his fight for the speakership, though he’s still short of the necessary votes for a nomination on the floor.
The House GOP is now voting a third time, with its sprawling candidate field down to six men. Besides Bergman, Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), a former House Rules chair, was also eliminated after receiving the lowest number of votes in the first round.
The full results of the first round vote, according to a person with knowledge of the secret ballot:
- Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.): 90
- Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.): 37
- Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.): 33
- Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.): 31
- Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.): 14
- Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.): 7
In addition, three Republicans voted “other” and two Republicans voted “present.”
Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) called those five stray votes — with lawmakers refusing to choose a specific person — “problematic.”
“That means we could have some long days ahead of us,” Huizenga said.
