Emmer Increases Lead in Second Internal Speaker Ballot

Republican House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) has slightly increased his lead in the second internal ballot to elect a speaker nominee, gaining 12 votes from the first ballot.

• The tally from the second ballot, per Punchbowl News: "Emmer- 90 Johnson- 37 Donalds- 33 Hern- 31 Scott- 14 Bergman- 7 Other- 3 Present- 2."
• Per the rules of the GOP conference, low vote-getter Rep Jack Bergman (R-MI) has been eliminated from the race.
• The conference now undertaking the third secret ballot of voting members. Emmer has a strong chance of winning in this round of voting.
• To secure the nomination, Emmer requires a simple majority of all present voting member. If the current numbers stand, that number will be 109.
• The vote so far suggests that deep fissures continue to divide the conference. Assuming Emmer takes the nomination, he will likely require Democrat support to secure the gavel. Should that occur Emmer would need to overhaul the rules of the House to reduce the power of conservatives and offset the risk of being ousted as former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was earlier this month.