Schuylkill County’s representative in Congress is seriously considering a run for Speaker of the House.
US Rep. Dan Meuser (PA-9) believes he’s a good fit for the Speaker’s job and he’s making his pitch to national media in the last few days.
Meuser’s interest in the Speaker of the House role increased after the latest Republican Congressman, Ohio’s Jim Jordan, to seek the job failed to get enough support from within his own party.
Jordan joins Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, as Representatives who couldn’t garner enough support within the party to move forward for a full House vote on them being the next Speaker.
Meuser publicly supported both Jordan and Scalise and also supported ousted Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-California.
In an interview with CNN, Meuser explained why he thinks he’s qualified for the role and what he’d do as Speaker of the House.
He said that he’d only be considering a run for Speaker if others hadn’t mentioned it to him in conversations.
“I’ve had some conversations,” Meuser told CNN. “I wouldn’t be considering this if I didn’t get some encouragement.”
As for his ambitions as a Congressman, specifically within the Republican Party, which seems to be lacking a true leader in the House right now, Meuser said, “I do want to be a part of leadership as far as planning goes. If I have the opportunity to run, I think I bring a unique perspective to it. We need someone who truly is an inclusionary leader.”
Answering a question on what he’d bring to the table as Speaker, Meuser said, “We only have a 5 vote majority. All participants need to feel that their word matters, that their vote matters. I think I can bring that, particularly when it comes to legislation, when it comes to policy, when it comes to events, when it comes to fundraising, when it comes to communications.”
Meuser and other Republicans have until Sunday to decide if they’ll make a run for the open Speaker’s job.
Should I decide to run for Speaker, my message will be focused on politics of inclusion. Every Member of the Republican Conference needs to be a part of policy making, legislation, and communications. That feeling of ownership builds a team culture, which is needed as we move our… pic.twitter.com/3Bn5vE0Kok— Congressman Dan Meuser (@RepMeuser) October 20, 2023
Photo: Coal Region Canary
