Rep. Jason Chaffetz: ‘I’m Probably Going to Lose’ House Speaker Bid

“I applaud Speaker Boehner for handling it this way”.

Chaffetz, who chairs the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, spoke with reporters three days before House Republicans are set to meet privately to choose their nominee for speaker.

“We have choices to make”, he said during a House Subcommittee on Information Technology hearing on the topic in April.

House Republicans are now scheduled for a closed-door conference meeting Thursday to select their leadership winners. “I’m just someone who was smart enough to recognize it and try to get ahead of it”.

“Whoever is nominated by the conference has got to have the leadership skills to pull together 218 votes to support him”, said Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, as he emerged from the candidates forum, which was held at the Capitol Hill Club. Love said Monday she intends to have “intense conversations” with all the leadership candidates and will be listening for a plan to “promote a positive, conservative agenda” for the House.

“The speaker’s job has always been a prestigious one, but carries with it tremendous responsibilities filled with thankless tasks that most elected officials and the general public either aren’t aware of or don’t appreciate”, notes GOP consultant Ron Bonjean, who served as a communication director for House leaders in the past. “And wouldn’t it be unbelievable to have someone from Utah?” In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, McCarthy implied the committee could take credit for Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton’s declining poll numbers. Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah and Daniel Webster of Florida are also running for the chamber’s top spot.

“He’s going to have to reach out and work with conservatives like they’ve never done since I’ve been here”.

Boehner’s announcement on the timing of the elections came amid ongoing turmoil in the House GOP and as Chaffetz presented himself as a new face who can unite the House. It’s not uncommon for the person in that position to rise to the speakership in the event of a vacancy, but Chaffetz maintains that McCarthy doesn’t have the support necessary to carry the vote.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy promised conservative GOP lawmakers Tuesday “I’m not John Boehner” as he sought their support to replace Boehner as speaker.

Naturally, given his affiliation with Sheldon Adelson and his co-sponsorship of the Restoration of America’s Wire Act (RAWA), Chaffetz would likely push to impose a blanket ban on all forms of online gambling in the U.S. if he was able to succeed the current incumbent John Boehner, who is officially stepping down at the end of October.

The move gives conservatives more time to rally around candidates – particularly one to oppose Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Rep. Tom Price of Georgia for majority leader.

Chaffetz won election in 2008 by toppling incumbent Republican Chris Cannon in a runoff, despite endorsements from President George W. Bush and most of the state’s political establishment.

“I will ask them, both Kevin and Jason, how do you undo the damage you did to people?” “And I think that’s a case that he does have to make”. That’s when conservatives will have their leverage, because McCarthy can lose only 29 votes to come out the victor. “Time for us to take the walls down, open up our ears and listen to each other“. But a lot of others in the conference don’t like the idea of handing out benefits to a vocal clutch of disruptors, whom they see as disloyal and uninterested in governing.