Fox News’ involvement in speaker race prompts centrist blowback over ‘circus’

Congress

A key bloc of centrist House Republicans are growing increasingly alarmed about the state of their party’s speaker race, with some warning it’s becoming “a circus” that will harm their push to hang onto the majority.

Those lawmakers, and others, are livid about an upcoming Fox News joint interview with the top speaker candidates. They warn it will stir even more chaos within the splintered caucus.

“People already thought this seemed like a circus,” said one centrist Republican lawmaker, who was granted anonymity to discuss internal conference dynamics. “We are proving it is.”

“This will keep us from getting anyone to 218,” the lawmaker added.

The intense blowback from GOP members could delay the event or scrap it altogether.

Former President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for speaker has also rankled centrists, who will be a key determinate in who becomes speaker. Many of whom have yet to endorse any candidate.

“Not helpful, at all,” another GOP centrist said of Trump’s endorsement.

A GOP lawmaker who supports Trump noted the endorsement could hurt Jordan among Republicans in Biden districts.

“Maybe that’s not the best thing for Jordan right now,” the GOP lawmaker said.

Some moderate Republican members have been raising the idea of keeping current acting Speaker Patrick McHenry in the role permanently, while pushing several other consensus candidates — which they believe includes Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), among others.

Lawmakers are hoping to hold their floor vote for speaker next week, but that timeline could slide if members can’t reach a consensus.

A group of lawmakers is discussing reforms to ensure Republicans don’t go to the House floor to pick their speaker until a candidate has enough votes, according to three lawmakers who’ve been involved in the talks.