NEW: Popular Trump-Aligned Republican To Run For House Speaker

Following the House Republican Conference’s secret vote to pull back the nomination of Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH), a new candidate for the Speakership has risen to the forefront. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) is now putting his name forward once again for Speaker of the House according to a spokesman for the Florida Republican.

The development was initially reported by Emily Brooks of The Hill, and subsequent reporting via The Post Millennial and WINK have confirmed it.

Jordan saw his nomination come to an end after 3 failed floor votes with the GOP conference voting 112-89 against him in a closed-door meeting Friday afternoon. Many commentators scoffed that 3 failed votes is a far cry from the 15 that were required to usher in the former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

Congressman Cory Mills (R-FL) wrote to X, “I supported @Jim_Jordan for our next Speaker. Unfortunately my votes for him on the floor and in conference to remain Speaker designate was not enough. I now support
@ByronDonalds for the next Speaker of the House.”

I supported @Jim_Jordan for our next Speaker. Unfortunately my votes for him on the floor and in conference to remain Speaker designate was not enough.

I now support @ByronDonalds for the next Speaker of the House 🇺🇸

— Cory Mills (@CoryMillsFL) October 20, 2023

The news was also confirmed by independent journalist Nick Sortor, who wrote, “Congressman @ByronDonalds, a man that has frequently been mentioned as a possible Trump VP, has CONFIRMED that he is now running for Speaker of the House Would you get behind Byron?”

🚨 Congressman @ByronDonalds, a man that has frequently been mentioned as a possible Trump VP, has CONFIRMED that he is now running for Speaker of the House

Would you get behind Byron? pic.twitter.com/KbJF9jeas9

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 20, 2023

According to Post Millennial, Donalds is one of many names that have emerged since Jordan was removed from consideration by the conference Friday afternoon. The Republican Conference in the House is set to hold its next candidate forum at 6:30 PM Monday, all but precluding the possibility of another floor vote that day. Reportedly the next vote on the floor will be held on Tuesday morning.

Any prospective candidates for Speaker must submit their name by noon EST on Sunday the outlet reported.

The Hill reported that other potential candidates include Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX), and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN). The Daily Caller has reported that “Wall Street wants Patrick McHenry,” citing reports that the current Speaker Pro Tempore of the House is reportedly favored by prominent voices in the financial services industry.

In the January 2023 Speaker election that saw McCarthy elected, Donalds emerged as a key figure early on, with a single vote for him appearing in the very first round from colleague Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX). Donalds was subsequently nominated in the fourth and fifth rounds. The support that swelled around him made him a household name nationwide for a time and his political influence has only grown since.

Donalds became further well know for exposing the corruption of the Biden family, with particular attention to Joe Biden’s disgraced son Hunter. In September he read aloud text exchanges between Hunter and the President’s brother Jim.

Donalds read, “In this text message it clearly says, ‘Anyway, we can talk later, but you’ve been drawn into something purely for the purpose of protecting dad.’”

It was in this bombshell testimony that Hunter had infamously said, “I hope you all do what I did and pay for everything for this entire family for 30 years. It’s really hard. But don’t worry. Unlike pop, I won’t make you give me half your salary.”