WASHINGTON – Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert has declared his candidacy for Speaker of the House of Representatives against John Boehner.
“After the November elections gave Republicans control of the Senate, voters made clear they wanted change,” Gohmert said in a statement timed alongside a Sunday show interview with Tucker Carlson.
“There have been numerous examples of problematic Republican leadership, but we were hopeful our leaders got the voters’ message,” Gohmert stated. “However, after our Speaker forced through the Cromnibus by passing it with Democratic votes and without time to read it, it seemed clear that we needed new leadership. There had been much discussion. But, until yesterday, no one had stepped up.”
“I applaud my friend Rep. Ted Yoho for putting his name forward as an alternative to the status quo. Ted is a good man for whom I could vote, but I have heard from many supporters and also friends in Congress who have urged me to put forward my name for Speaker as well to increase our chances of change. That is why I am also offering my name as a candidate for Speaker.”
Gohmert’s statement elaborated as to how he can win the Speaker’s race.
“There is false information being floated that any Republican candidates in addition to the current Speaker will split the vote and give the Speaker’s gavel to Congresswoman Pelosi,” Gohmert said. “This is nothing but a scare tactic to keep the current regime in power.”
“As long as Republicans vote for an adult American citizen for Speaker, no Democrat can win. Only if 30 Republicans voted ‘Present’ would there be a chance for a Democrat to win.”
“To win the Speaker’s race, an adult American citizen has to get a clear majority of all Members of Congress on the House floor voting for an eligible person. Voting ‘Present’ simply reduces the number of votes required to win a majority. If no one wins a majority on the first ballot, then we go to a second vote, then a third, until someone gets a majority.”
Gohmert solidified his growing stature in the Republican Party this year with the successful launch of GOHPAC, a tea party PAC to defend primary challengers from their GOP establishment rivals. The PAC helped shine a media light on young conservative candidates like Dan Bongino and Boehner’s Ohio-based primary challenger J.D. Winteregg in the run-up to Dave Brat’s historic defeat of Rep. Eric Cantor in the Virginia seventh district primary. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Louie Launches GOHPAC).
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