Photo: Alamy
The House of Representatives has yet to secure a new Speaker in the wake of Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s, R-Calif., ousting, drawing attention to what may be contentious inner negotiations among Republicans at Capitol Hill.
According to Just the News, Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., withdrew his name from the Speaker’s race on Thursday, citing a lack of unity in the congressional conference. Previously, Scalise won the Speakership nomination in a private ballot conference in D.C. by a vote of 113 against Rep. Jim Jordan’s 99.
However, with Scalise out of the race, Rep. Jordan may yet have a path to winning the gavel. The Ohio congressman has been endorsed by President Donald J. Trump.
As reported by RSBN, a candidate needs to secure 217 votes to win the Speakership, and without Scalise running for the seat, more votes are expected to swing toward Jordan. However, Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., could possibly jump into the race, as well, according to a report from Fox News.
Emmer is the Republican Majority Whip.
A contingency of America First representatives in the House have followed Trump’s lead and endorsed Jordan for Speaker, including Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who initiated the motion to vacate Rep. McCarthy from the position of Speaker, explained on X that his goal is to “get the most conservative Speaker of the House with broad trust across the conference.”
He continued, “The Swamp of Washington D.C. is going crazy right now because they are not in complete and total control–this gives us a great opportunity to put the interests of our fellow Americans first.”
Currently, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., is serving as the Speaker Pro Tempore until Congress selects a Speaker.