Rep. Kevin Hern Will Not Run For House Speaker

Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., said Saturday he will not run for House speaker, setting up a likely two-candidate race between Reps. Steve Scalise, R-La., and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.

Her said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that after spending "50+ hours" on the phone with fellow Republican lawmakers that bis entry into the contest would "create even more division" and "make it harder" to elect a speaker.

"Now is the time to put the future of our nation first because a divided majority will result in an even more fractured country," Hern said in a statement. "This is bigger than me or any one person. The decision we make will impact every American, regardless of party affiliation, tax bracket, or zip codeHouse Republicans must unity - and do it fast. It's clear to me that a three-man race for speaker will only draw this process out longer, creating further division which would make it harder for any candidate to roach 217 votes."

The congressman said he met or spoke with all 221 members of the House Republican conference to determine what each lawmaker is looking for in the next round of leadership. He said many expressed the "necessity" for "new blood" in leadership, but Hern says "unity" should come "first and foremost."

The House speaker position became vacate after eight Republicans and Democrats voted to oust Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., earlier this week.

With Hern out of the race, the two candidates for House speaker are Scalise, and Jordan.

Earlier this week, Jordan received an endorsement for speaker from former President Donald Trump.

Hern said he believes both men are "proven leaders" and the conference needs to be "united" in order to elect a new person to yield the gavel.