A roll-call vote in the conference indicated that there were over 20 who opposed Emmer, far more than the four Republicans he could afford to lose on the House floor.
Candidates for round 4 must declare by 5:30 PM, with the next candidate forum starting at 6 PM tonight.
Byron Donalds, Kevin Hern, Mike Johnson, and Roger Williams are returning from the last round. Mark Green and Chuck Fleischmann are newly entering their hats into the ring. Next GOP vote will start at 8 PM tonight.
Kevin Hern has dropped out, endorsing Johnson.
Johnson leads by far after the first round of ballots with 85. The other candidates on the first ballot got 86 total, including Fleischmann who will be eliminated from the next round with only 10 votes. Other candidates not on the ballot got 30 votes.
Johnson still leading after the second ballot with 97 votes. Donalds 31, Green 21, Williams 20. Williams in last place gets eliminated, Green has dropped out, leaving just Johnson and Donalds. McCarthy got 33 votes despite not being on the ballot, another person not on the ballot got 1 vote, and 3 people voted present.
Johnson wins the nomination with 128 votes to Byron Donalds' 29. McCarthy also received 43 votes despite not being a candidate nor being on the ballot.
At this point I can't help but read the whole post in early 1900s race horse announcer voice.