Since shortly after Christmas 2014, a grass-roots movement has gained force among Republican voters. They do not want Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) to stay on as Speaker of the House of Representatives. This morning that movement moved from the “just talk” stage to the action stage. Because now, in Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), they have a candidate.

Louie Gohmert announces

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas). Official portrait, courtesy of the United States House of Representatives.

Louie Gohmert broke the news on the Fox and Friends show this morning at 7:15 a.m. He first acknowledged Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) who said yesterday he would not support John Boehner for Speaker this time. The Hill said only that of Yoho. But Louie Gohmert said plainly: Ted Yoho will run for the Speakership, as Gohmert himself will. Tucker Carlson, weekend host of Fox and Friends, asked Louie Gohmert about the “vote split danger.” Gohmert reminded his host that no one becomes Speaker without 218 votes: a majority of all members. So Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) cannot become Speaker even if Louie Gohmert, Ted Yoho, and John Boehner split the vote on the first ballot.

The Daily Caller quoted Louie Gohmert more extensively than The Hill did:

There is false information being floated that any Republican candidates in addition to the current Speaker will split the vote and give the Speaker’s gavel to Congresswoman Pelosi. This is nothing but a scare tactic to keep the current regime in power. As long as Republicans vote for an adult American citizen for Speaker, no Democrat can win. Only if 30 Republicans voted “Present” would there be a chance for a Democrat to win. To win the Speaker’s race, an adult American citizen has to get a clear majority of all Members of Congress on the House floor voting for an eligible person.  Voting “Present” simply reduces the number of votes required to win a majority. If no one wins a majority on the first ballot, then we go to a second vote, then a third, until someone gets a majority.

The Daily Signal made clear: Ted Yoho definitely said he would run for Speaker on Saturday.

We want a new Speaker!

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At least two conservative activist groups pushed the idea of replacing John Boehner as Speaker. Two days ago, National Review reported results of a fresh poll: sixty percent of Republican voters surveyed, want a different Speaker.

Despite that, Jim Geraghty, the columnist at NR who reported that poll, said “Boehner isn’t going anywhere.” The reason: until then, no Republican in the House had moved from saying, “We want a new Speaker” to “I want you to choose me as Speaker.”

Then yesterday, the dam burst. Ted Yoho made it official.

But this did not satisfy the Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee (Alipac). They suspect Ted Yoho would not oppose de facto President Barack Obama’s “executive action” (read: SecHomeSec Jeh C. Johnson’s “memorandum”) deferring deportations for five million unlawful residents. Louie Gohmert’s announcement pleased them greatly.

New Jersey Tea Party friend William Eames told CNAV this morning,

Louie Gohmert would make a great Speaker! He has seniority, he’s articulate, and he’s been around long enough to know how to get things done.

Another activist, Nick Purpura, also praised Louie Gohmert:

Good man! Speaks up. He’s a Texan….He has never shut his mouth even when people told him to.

He also suggested Ted Yoho did not have enough name recognition to become Speaker.

Both men agreed with this suggestion: having at least one, maybe two challengers for the Speakership meant far more than merely talking about getting another Speaker of the House.

The House will start voting to choose its Speaker on January 6. The House will reconvene on that date.

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