Eight GOP candidates vying for House speakership

The battle for the House speakership continues to rage in the wake of a secret ballot that ultimately took out Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) from the running.

According to Breitbart, a handful of GOP lawmakers are vying for the top leadership spot, with some having much better chances than others.

One of the lawmakers  who is gaining steam is Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL). He's one of the few, if not the only, current speaker candidates on good terms with former President Donald Trump's large base of support.

Breitbart noted:

Donalds is an intriguing candidate who briefly ran for Speaker in January, winning support among Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) holdouts. An effective messenger unafraid to appear on networks hostile to conservatives, Donalds has been an up-and-comer since arriving in Washington in 2021. He has considered running for Florida governor in the future as well.

Donalds is getting massive amounts of support on social media. His name has "trended" several times on X, formerly Twitter.

It’s time mobilize. We need all hands on deck.

Please call your congressmen and urge them to support Byron Donalds for Speaker: (202) 224-3121

Please REPOST and urge your friends and family to support @ByronDonalds

Let’s unify as conservatives. pic.twitter.com/FuZ6A2n1xI

— Jenny Beth Martin (@jennybethm) October 23, 2023

He released a statement last week regarding his intention to run for the top job.

Tonight, I am announcing my candidacy for Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. pic.twitter.com/1wSwQYqoX2

— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) October 20, 2023

Others who've jumped into the speaker race include Reps. Jack Bergman (MI), Tom Emmer (MN), Kevin Hearn (OK), Mike Johnson (LA), Austin Scott (GA), Gary Palmer (AL) and Pete Sessions (TX).

Emmer's name hit the headlines over the weekend after President Trump released a statement saying he wouldn't lend his support for him.

Trump cited a number of reasons, including Emmer's failure to speak out against Trump's multiple indictments and his stance on the Jan. 6 Capitol protests.

Multiple votes have taken place, with no clear winner yet.

NBC News noted what has to happen to win:

A nominee must secure 217 votes on the House floor to be elected. The threshold has proved to be difficult, with only 221 Republicans in the House and conservative and moderate factions divided over who should be the leader.

Hopefully, the GOP can get something going sooner than later, as many believe a speakerless House poses national security concerns.