House Minority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) won the Republican nomination to be the next speaker of the House, but he now faces the uphill challenge of garnering the 217 votes needed on the floor.
Emmer is the third GOP nominee in as many weeks, as House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) each failed to be elected speaker. The protracted battle, which has exposed rifts and bad blood within the Republican conference, has left the House at a standstill at a moment of international crises and the prospect of government funding running out next month.
Emmer drew 117 votes on the fifth secret ballot of the House Republican conference, which met behind closed doors today at the Capitol.
More to come.