The Ranked Choice Speaker-Designate: Emmer Faces Uphill Climb for Gavel

Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) won the latest House Republican Speaker nomination Tuesday on the fifth ballot by a 117-97 vote over Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), a sign of the steep challenge he faces to get the necessary 217 votes on the House floor.

His 117 votes are fewer than Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) received when winning his ballot.

The moderate Emmer, who serves as the Majority Whip, has received the conditional support of at least one Democrat.

It is possible Emmer relies on Democrats to win the gavel. While unlikely Democrats vote for him, Capitol Hill is bustling with rumors that Democrats may vote “present” or avoid the vote altogether in numbers sufficient to lower Emmer’s threshold for victory from 217