Darrell Issa Makes Harsh Claim About Jason Chaffetz Amid Speaker Chaos: ‘He

Gowdy has forcefully said on many occasions that he is not interested in any leadership positions.

“So you are aware, he is not planning to run for Speaker”, Darin Miller, the press secretary for Jordan, told The Lima News.

Conservative Republicans were touting Jordan as someone who would best reflect the political drift and impulses of the House. At this point Mulvaney made it clear that at least for now Daniel Webster (R- FL) remains their choice for leader. But Boehner has not publicly called on Ryan to replace him.

Gutiérrez said, “Look, they cannibalize their own”. On Ryan’s other side was Peter Roskam, also a potential leadership candidate.

Ryan had been a resolute no for the job, citing the toll it would take on his family – he has three young children – even as it would put him right behind the vice president in the order of presidential succession.

“One thing I’ve found in talking with everybody is if we are going to unite and be strong, we need a new face to help do that”, McCarthy said. A lot of them have backed John Boehner, the current speaker, and probably would have backed Kevin McCarthy, his lieutenant. Critics capitalized on the remark.

Aides said late Friday that nothing about Ryan’s intentions had changed. I feel good about the decision. Numerous Republicans who were against Boehner and McCarthy would listen to him, and trust him to listen to them.

McCarthy told reporters today he wanted Republicans to be united behind the next Speaker, and did not want the voting process to be divisive.

As IJ.com first reported, Issa has been considering a bid at the Speakership after the announcement that Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) had withdrawn from the race. “I think he’d make a great speaker”, McCarthy said Friday morning as he entered a closed-door Republican meeting. Ryan now heads the House Ways and Means Committee, which writes tax law. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Dan Webster (R-Fla.), both of whom took on McCarthy, are very likely to give it another shot. Republicans are pressuring Ryan to reconsider, saying he can bridge the gap between tea party conservatives and others in the caucus.

On Friday, Boehner told Republicans, he still expected a vote for his replacement by the end of October, Representative John Fleming said.

Rep. Renee Ellmers stood up to speak in an open-microphone portion of the meeting being held the morning after McCarthy shocked the House by taking his name out of contention to become the next speaker. Nearly immediately after McCarthy withdrew from consideration, the Wisconsin congressman once again said he “will not” be a candidate for Speaker.