Republicans have picked Tom Emmer as their third nominee to be House of Representatives Speaker, three weeks after their last leader was ousted in a right-wing revolt.
The full chamber will now vote on the Minnesota congressman’s candidacy, though it is unclear if he can win.
Mr Emmer emerged as the nominee in a series of internal party ballots.
The US legislature has been unable to pass bills since Kevin McCarthy was removed on 3 October.
Mr Emmer, 62, is currently House Majority Whip, making him the third-most powerful Republican in the House.
He may have difficulties in securing support from right-wing Republicans and allies of former President Donald Trump, however.
On Tuesday, successive rounds of voting by Republican members whittled down the candidates one by one. In the final round, Mr Emmer defeated Mike Johnson of Louisiana.
It’s unclear when Mr Emmer’s nomination will go to a vote on the House floor – and whether he has enough support to claim the Speaker’s chair.
After the voting, Texas Representative Andy Webber told reporters that Mr Emmer does not currently have the votes necessary to win a floor vote.
A former college ice hockey player and coach, Mr Emmer also previously served as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, which works to help party candidates win elections across the US.
He’s held his seat in Congress since 2015, and prior to that served in the Minnesota state legislature. He narrowly lost a race for governor of the state in 2010.
Mr Emmer voted to certify the 2020 election won by President Joe Biden, a move that has led to a contentious relationship with Mr Trump.
Mr Trump’s preferred candidate Jim Jordan dropped out last week, and he did not endorse any of the eight who threw their hats into the ring on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters at a campaign event in New Hampshire on Monday, Mr Trump said he is “staying above it”.
“I’ve spoken to just about all the candidates. There are quite a few of them,” he said. “And they’re terrific people.”
Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon referred to Mr Emmer as a “Trump hater” on his podcast on Friday, and urged the former president’s supporters in the House to “stop” him.