October 24, 2023
House Republicans are frustrated Tuesday evening about their conference's failure to coalesce around a speaker candidate after House Majority Whip Tom Emmer dropped out of the race less than five…
Mike Gallagher, a Republican Representative from Minnesota, said that he would be holding another candidate forum if Speaker-designate Tom Emmer did not withdraw his candidacy after a massive backlash on his quest to get the 217 votes he needed to take the gavel.
Gallagher also attacked members of his own conference, saying they would not 'abide by' the rules set forth in their conference.
He said that if people feel no loyalty towards an institution such as Congress, because they are weak, then they will not abide by rules, conference, and the norms for congressional behavior. It seems that if someone disagrees with you on a policy issue - I think many people disagreed with Emmer's position on gay marriage - that is enough to stop you from supporting him for speaker. We can't do it that way.
He believes that they will vote immediately after the forum.
We'll have a voting after the candidates present their cases, and then we'll vote. If it appears that the candidate is near 217 points, we might theoretically be able to go to the floor. Why not? See? Hope springs eternal,' he said.
Gallagher claimed that the same problem didn't occur with Democrats, because "Pelosi was ruling with an iron hand."
In a sports metaphor, the Wisconsin Republican likened the conference to the Green Bay Packers, who finished 2-4.
He said: 'I don't know who is worse at team sports right now, the Packers or House Republican Conference'.