Byron Donalds runs for U.S. House speaker as conference searches for new candidate

Eric Daugherty contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Florida’s Voice confirmed that Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., is running for speaker of the the U.S. House.

The move comes as Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, did not receive enough votes to become the chamber’s leader. The chamber had taken three votes as Jordan sought the position.

Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., said on social media that he supports Donalds to be the next speaker of the House.

“I supported Jim Jordan for our next Speaker. Unfortunately my votes for him on the floor and in conference to remain Speaker designate was not enough,” Mills said.

The Friday vote included four Florida Republican congressman who did not vote for Jordan.

Mario Diaz-Balart and John Rutherford voted for Steve Scalise of Louisiana, Vern Buchanan voted for Byron Donalds of Florida, and Carlos Gimenez voted for Kevin McCarthy of California.

“The most popular Republican in Congress was just knifed in an an anonymous vote in a secret closed door meeting in the basement of the Capitol,” Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz said. “This is the Swamp at work.”

The party’s members are set to hold another forum for speaker candidates on Monday, a vote ideally set for Tuesday.