Conservatives are rallying around Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) to become Speaker of the House in the latest battle for the gavel.
Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (R-Fla.), who said he would never vote for previous nominee Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), per CNN, has pledged his support for Donalds.
He posted to X, formerly Twitter, Sunday, stating, “As a fellow Floridian and as an America First Republican, I am proud to endorse my friend and colleague Byron Donalds for Speaker of the House.”
🚨NEW: As a fellow Floridian and as an America First Republican, I am proud to endorse my friend and colleague Byron Donalds for Speaker of the House.
— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) October 22, 2023
Byron is the present & future of our movement — he’s the conservative leader we need to unite us as Republicans. pic.twitter.com/tlHfpbVkfo
Sunday night, Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) also endorsed Donalds. He wrote on X, “Our country desperately needs leadership to hold Biden accountable and move our country forward.”
He then asked, “Pleased to support fellow Floridian and conservative @ByronDonalds for Speaker of the House.”
Our country desperately needs leadership to hold Biden accountable and move our country forward.
— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) October 23, 2023
Pleased to support fellow Floridian and conservative @ByronDonalds for Speaker of the House.
Let’s get back to work!
Various other conservatives also pledged their support. Former Georgia Rep. Vernon Jones stated Donalds can save the party and tackle the issues facing the nation right now.
He said, “You can’t stop an idea who’s time has come. Let’s roll with Bryon Donalds as Speaker of the House.”
If someone must go, send @ByronDonalds. If elected Speaker, he can save the @GOP in more ways than one, and more than anyone. He can and will secure the border, restore fiscal responsibility, reduce debt, lead the House in passing comprehensive conservative policies, hold… pic.twitter.com/EF8HNTlWrO
— Vernon Jones (@VernonForGA) October 22, 2023
New Jersey Congressional candidate Darius Mayfield posted, “@ByronDonalds is a PHENOMENAL choice for Speaker and the RIGHT choice!
“He’s a unifying voice and a man that can beat back the left at every turn, with intelligence, facts, and class,” he added.
@ByronDonalds is a PHENOMENAL choice for Speaker and the RIGHT choice! He's a unifying voice and a man that can beat back the left at every turn, with intelligence, facts, and class. #VOTE Byron Donald's for Speaker!
— Darius Mayfield (@MrMayfieldUSA) October 21, 2023
Republicans wake up, stop the madness, & ELECT a Speaker! pic.twitter.com/GPrjZyT9Rk
Donalds posted a clip confirming his bid for the speakership to X noting, “Let’s be very clear, our house right now, we’re having some issues.”
“We can repair those issues but it requires us to be unified number one, go back to business and secure our border, actually fund this government responsibly, and then continue to lay out that conservative vision for the people who sent us here,” he added
I am running to become the next Speaker of the House.
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) October 21, 2023
We need to:
🇺🇸 Secure our border
🇺🇸 Fund our government responsibly
🇺🇸 Advance our conservative agenda
🇺🇸 Expand our Republican majority
Let’s get to work! pic.twitter.com/a7jmeDYzvV
According to Axios, nine Republicans are vying for the spot. Each candidate will have the opportunity to pitch their leadership on Monday with the next vote to follow on Tuesday.