WASHINGTON (AP) – House Republicans are in upheaval as their front-runner for speaker faces fresh opposition and conservatives push to postpone leadership elections.
With daunting challenges ahead, it’s increasingly clear that Speaker John Boehner’s resignation only deepened divisions in the fractious caucus.
GOP Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah announced his candidacy for speaker on Sunday, presenting himself as a new face who can unite the House in the wake of Boehner’s sudden resignation last month. Boehner’s deputy, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, remains the favorite, but Chaffetz’s candidacy ensures there will be no coronation.
The House GOP is supposed to vote by secret ballot on Thursday, following by a floor vote in the full House later in the month.
“I can bridge that divide between our more centrist members and some of the more far-right-wing members. That’s why I’ve entered this race,” Chaffetz told “Fox News Sunday.”