Speaker candidates make their pitches

The House Republican conference is set to hear from nine Speaker candidates tonight ahead of a Tuesday morning vote on the party’s nominee. 

Candidates have already begun previewing their pitches for why they should be entrusted to lead the fractured conference.  

Republican Study Committee Chairman Kevin Hern (Okla.) sent colleagues a letter listing stats on government funding, the budget, immigration and more to show what Hern says hasn’t been working properly.

“If we want to deliver better outcomes, we need to pursue a fresh approach,” Hern said, referring to his business experience as well as committee chairmanship.

Majority Whip Tom Emmer, (Minn.), the highest-ranking member in the field, previously chaired the National Republican Congressional Committee.

He discussed a “culture of teamwork, communication, and respect” in those roles in a letter to colleagues and said he’d use that culture as Speaker “to build on the moments that brought us success, learn from our mistakes, and keep fighting for each and every one of you and our Republican majority.”

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), ousted earlier this month, endorsed Emmer.

Conference Vice Chairman Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in his letter to colleagues the moment “demands a specific plan and bold, decisive action” but also “a leader who will humble himself each day before Almighty God, selflessly serve the full membership of this body, and fight ceaselessly for our core conservative principles and policies.”

Check out more pitches and info on the other candidates: Reps. Byron Donalds (Fla.), Jack Bergman (Mich.), Austin Scott (Ga.), Pete Sessions (Texas), Dan Meuser (Pa.) and Gary Palmer (Ala.).