In a bid to replace deposed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Republicans have voted to nominate Steve Scalise of Louisiana as the next US House speaker. Scalise managed to secure the support of a slim majority, receiving 113 out of the 221 House Republican votes. Although his nomination indicates progress, Scalise still needs to win a total of 217 votes on the House floor to succeed McCarthy.
Acknowledging the ongoing work ahead, Scalise stated, "We are going to have to go upstairs on the House floor and resolve this." However, his rival for the position, conservative firebrand Jim Jordan, has taken a step towards unity by offering to formally nominate Scalise on the House floor. This move signifies a potential shift from the endorsement of Donald Trump, who had backed Jordan for the role. It becomes evident that the influence of Trump's endorsement has its limits.
The chamber may hold the vote as early as Wednesday, with Democrats planning to unanimously support their candidate, Hakeem Jeffries, for the position. Yet, some lawmakers suggest that Scalise still requires more backing, raising the possibility of a delay in the election process.
Jim Jordan, who received 99 votes, holds significant support from members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, a group he helped establish. Representatives Lauren Boebert and Max Miller intend to vote for Jordan on the floor, which could potentially lead to an extended battle. Representative Scott Perry, head of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, is currently contemplating the decision to vote for Scalise.
Representative Tom Massie expressed his uncertainty about Scalise securing enough votes to win on the House floor, stating, "It's not over yet." With the nomination process complete, the true race begins outside the confines of the nomination meeting.
Scalise's support largely lies with moderate Republicans and allies from southern states. Scalise and Jordan are both considered more conservative than McCarthy regarding fiscal matters, but Scalise is notably less combative than Jordan.
If Scalise is elected as House speaker, it would allow the legislative work, previously stalled following McCarthy's removal, to resume. The primary goals at hand for Republicans and Democrats are to swiftly pass aid for Israel in response to recent attacks from Hamas and to continue working on funding bills crucial for preventing a government shutdown after November 17.
Given the ongoing possibility of a federal shutdown next month, Scalise informed Republicans in a closed-door meeting that another short-term funding measure would be necessary to keep the government open. However, introducing such a bill could risk rebellion from hardline conservatives, similar to what occurred during McCarthy's tenure.
Scalise's entrance into Congress dates back to 2008, with his involvement in various House leadership roles since 2014. Over the years, his popularity among Republicans has grown as he faced and overcame numerous health challenges. In 2017, Scalise was shot and wounded during a congressional baseball practice, and more recently, he announced receiving cancer treatment in August.