October 2015 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election
The United States House of Representatives was a scheduled election for Speaker of the House for October 29, 2015, during the 114th U.S. Congress. The election was caused by the announcement of Speaker John Boehner's resignation, set for October 30. The Speaker of the House follows the Vice President in line of succession to the presidency of the United States in accordance with the Presidential Succession Act. Paul Ryan was elected speaker and took office on October 29, 2015.
Background
changeKevin McCarthy, the House Majority Leader and second-in-command to the Speaker, was initially viewed as the front runner to win the Speakership. However, due to the opposition of the Freedom Caucus, McCarthy dropped out of the race on October 8, and the caucus vote was postponed. Paul Ryan and Daniel Webster of the Republican Party and Nancy Pelosi of the Democratic Party remain declared candidates.
Candidates
changeDeclared
changeThese are the official declared candidates:
- Nancy Pelosi, (Democratic Party), Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives (since 2011; 2003–2007), United States representative for California's 12th congressional district (since 2013), and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (2007–2011).[1][2]
- Paul Ryan, (Republican Party), United States representative for Wisconsin's 1st congressional district (since 1999), Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee (since 2015), Republican Party nominee for Vice President of the United States in the 2012 election.[3]
- Daniel Webster, (Republican Party), United States representative for Florida's 10th congressional district (since 2013).[4][5]
Publicly expressed interest
changeThe following potential candidates has expressed interest in running for speaker within the past month:
- Darrell Issa, (Republican Party), United States representative for California's 49th congressional district (since 2003), Chairman of the House Oversight Committee (2011–2015).[6][7]
- Michael McCaul, (Republican Party), United States representative for Texas's 10th congressional district (since 2005), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee (since 2013).[8][9]
- Lynn Westmoreland, (Republican Party), United States representative for Georgia's 3rd congressional district (since 2007).[10][11]
- Ryan Zinke, (Republican Party), United States representative for Montana's at-large congressional district (since 2015).[12][13]
Potential candidates
changeThe following received speculation about a possible candidacy in at least two reliable sources:
- Diane Black, (Republican Party), United States representative for Tennessee's 6th congressional district (since 2011).[14][15]
- Marsha Blackburn, (Republican Party), United States representative for Tennessee's 7th congressional district (since 2003).[16][17]
- Mike Conaway, (Republican Party), United States representative for Texas's 11th congressional district (since 2005).[18][19]
- Newt Gingrich, (Republican Party), Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (1995–1999), House Minority Whip (1989–1995), United States representative for Georgia's 6th congressional district (1979–1999).[20][21]
- Mike Kelly, (Republican Party), United States representative for Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district (since 2011).[22][23]
- John Kline, (Republican Party), United States representative for Minnesota's 2nd congressional district (since 2003), Chairman of the House Education Committee (since 2011).[24][25]
- Mike Pompeo, (Republican Party), United States representative for Kansas's 4th congressional district (since 2011).[26][27]
- Peter Roskam, (Republican Party), United States representative for Illinois's 6th congressional district (since 2007).[28][29]
Withdrawn
changeThe following individual did initially run for the position, but withdrew some time later:
- Jason Chaffetz, (Republican Party), United States representative for Utah's 3rd congressional district (since 2008), Chairman of the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (since 2015) (Withdrew on October 20, 2015; endorsed Paul Ryan).[30][31]
- Bill Flores, (Republican Party), United States representative for Texas's 17th congressional district since 2011. (Withdrew on October 22, 2015; endorsed Paul Ryan).[32]
- Kevin McCarthy (Republican Party), United States representative for California's 23rd congressional district (since 2013), Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives (since 2014). (Withdrew on October 8, 2015).[33][34]
Declined to run
changeThe following noteworthy individuals received some speculation to a possible run, but ultimately ruled themselves out:
- Trey Gowdy (Republican Party), United States representative for South Carolina's 4th congressional district (since 2011), Chairman of the House Benghazi Committee (since 2014) (Endorsed Paul Ryan).[35]
- Jeb Hensarling (Republican Party), United States representative for Texas's 5th congressional district (since 2003), Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services (since 2013).[36]
- Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Republican Party), United States representative for Washington's 5th congressional district (since 2005), Chairman of the House Republican Conference (since 2013).[37]
- Steve Scalise (Republican Party), United States representative for Louisiana's 1st congressional district (since 2008), Majority Whip of the United States House of Representatives (since 2014) (Endorsed Paul Ryan).[38][39]
References
change- ↑ "House leadership: Nancy Pelosi seeks support for speaker". Politico. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
- ↑ "House Leadership: Hoyer says GOP on its own for Speaker vote". Politico. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
- ↑ "Paul Ryan officially running for Speaker". CNN. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
- ↑ "Could Daniel Webster lose his house seat just as he's running for Speaker?". Hot Air.com. Archived from the original on October 10, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Daniel Webster Wins Conservative Republicans' Endorsement for House Speaker". The New York Times. October 9, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Issa: I'm considering running for House Speaker". CNBC.com. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Darrell Issa: "I May Run for House Speaker"". The Daily Beast.com. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ "U.S. Rep McCaul to run if Paul Ryan doesn't". WFAA.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
- ↑ "McCaul plans to run for House Speaker". KeyeTV.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2015.
- ↑ "Lynn Westmoreland, 'Considering' Running for Speaker". Politics.com. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Lynn Westmoreland Considering Running for Speaker". Sputnik News.com. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Zinke says he is considering running for House speaker". Star Tribune.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Zinke says he is considering running for House Speaker". Missoulian.com. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
- ↑ "Two Republican Women from Tennessee talked up for Speaker race". Times Free Press.com. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
- ↑ "Could a Tennessean be the next Speaker". WRCBtv.com. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
- ↑ "House Speaker Race – Marsha Blackburn, Peter Roskam, Dark Horses". National Review.com. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
- ↑ "Exclusive — American Conservative Union Vote Analysis: Marsha Blackburn Best Viable Candidate for Speakership". Breitbart.com. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
- ↑ "Sources: Flores, Conaway Weighing Bids for U.S. House Speaker". Texas Tribune.com. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Report: Conaway weighing in on Speaker bid". MRT.com. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Gingrich open to return to Speakership". The Hill.com. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ Chasmar, Jessica (October 8, 2015). "Newt Gingrich open to House speaker run after Kevin McCarthy withdraws". The Washington Times. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
- ↑ "Rep. Mike Kelly Considers House Speaker Bid". ErieTVNews.com. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ↑ "Representative Mike Kelly May Run for House Speaker". YourErie.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ↑ "Rep. John Kline in running for speaker, but says he supports Paul Ryan". Star Tribune.com. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ "House Speaker spotlight may swivel around Rep. John Kline". Inforum.com. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Mike Pompeo won't rule out running for speaker". Kansas Eagle.com. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
- ↑ "Pompeo considering race for speaker". Angri-pulse.com. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
- ↑ "Meet Peter Roskam, Dark Horse Candidate for Speaker". Breitbart.com. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
- ↑ "Rep. Peter Roskam, the man could be speaker". Breitbart.com. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
- ↑ "Chaffetz enters speaker's race, pans McCarthy". Politico. October 4, 2015.
- ↑ "Ryan to run for House Speaker if he gets full party support". Fox News. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
- ↑ "Most Texas Republicans backing Paul Ryan for House speaker". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
- ↑ "House leadership race: Kevin McCarthy formally announces he's running for speaker – POLITICO". POLITICO. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ Steinhauer, Jennifer (October 8, 2015). "Kevin McCarthy Drops Out of House Speaker Race". The New York Times. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Gowdy says he won't run". The Hill. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Texas conservative Jeb Hensarling won't run for House Speaker". iPR Newswire. Archived from the original on October 11, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Tom Price gets support, Cathy McMorris Rodgers is out". CNN. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ "Steve Scalise: Next speaker of the House?". WNRO. Archived from the original on October 12, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
- ↑ "House Majority Whip Steve Scalise backs Paul Ryan for House Speaker". The Advocate. Archived from the original on October 10, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2015.