OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — U.S. Representative Jim Bridenstine of Tulsa broke with the majority of his Republican colleagues in Congress and endorsed Representative Daniel Webster of Florida in the race for speaker of the House.
Bridenstine joined with a group of 42 other conservatives in Wednesday's vote in the GOP Conference, where 200 of his Republican colleagues nominated Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan to serve as speaker.
Bridenstine said in a statement that he will vote for Ryan on the floor of the House since he is the Republican nominee. That vote is expected on Thursday.
In a separate vote on Wednesday, Bridenstine and U.S. Representatives Markwayne Mullin and Steve Russell voted against a bipartisan two-year budget deal. Oklahoma's other two Republicans, U.S. Representatives Tom Cole and Frank Lucas, voted for the package.