Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) could become the next Speaker of the House, according to a recent op-ed.
Donalds was noted as a top candidate and alternative to the current options who could appeal to conservatives in the quest to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
Why Byron Donalds should actually be the next speaker of the House https://t.co/IuNOut6K0n
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) October 11, 2023
"[Donalds] was also previously nominated for speaker and received 20 votes on two separate occasions during the speaker of the 118th Congress election in January 2023," the Washington Examiner op-ed noted.
"Given that he has only been in Congress since 2021, it showed that Donalds has earned the respect of many and is considered a leader of the GOP in the House," it added.
Scalise, Jordan make final pitch to House Republicans ahead of GOP speaker vote https://t.co/rQBpmrYmE0
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 11, 2023
"House Republicans met behind closed doors for over two hours on Tuesday night to hear from Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as they made their final pitches to be elected the next speaker," Fox News reported.
"The caucus will gather again Wednesday morning for a closed-door vote to pick their candidate before nominating them on the House floor," it continued.
If neither candidate can secure enough votes, additional nominations will be sought that could include Donalds among the next round of contenders.
In addition to Donalds, some have speculated that former President Donald Trump could be nominated to serve in the role. He did not rule out the option though it is highly unlikely due to his presidential run.
McCarthy has also been rumored about making a comeback bid. He originally said he would not seek another run but hinted at the option in a recent interview.
Congress faces pressure to make a decision quickly to unite Republicans, but there is so far no clear consensus on who will lead the House.
