GOP nominates Scalise for speaker; tough vote ahead
U.S. House Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana reportedly received the backing of a majority of his fellow House Republicans for the speaker of the House nomination during a closed conference meeting Wednesday afternoon.
Now, Scalise faces a vote of the full House for the vacant position possibly this week, and his battle is far from over. Scalise needs the support of nearly all his Republican colleagues since Democrats will likely vote against his nomination.
Scalise was by no means a landslide winner of the vote, which was conducted by secret ballot, winning 113-99, according to multiple media reports. In particular, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, put his name in the hat for speaker and received some support, including the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.
U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is no stranger to wrangling Republicans in this setting. He narrowly secured the speakership for this Congress after more than a dozen public votes, but was ousted after he reached a deal with Democrats to keep the federal government open temporarily late last month.
If Scalise fails to get the necessary votes, McCarthy could resurface as a contender. McCarthy said he will not run again after being ousted but later softened his tone, saying he would “let the conference decide.”
Another issue at hand is whether one lawmaker will be able to file a motion to vacate the speaker, an unusual allowance given by McCarthy to secure the needed Republican votes after the marathon series of speakership votes earlier this year. U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., filed that motion, which led to the ousting of McCarthy and frustration from many of his Republican colleagues.
With a partial government shutdown looming in mid-November as well as pressure to supply funds and munitions to both Ukraine and Israel given the conflicts there, House Republicans are facing increased pressure to figure things out quickly.
Scalise is the current Majority Leader, so if he is able to win the speakership, a significant leadership role in the party will immediately open up.
Scalise announced earlier this year that he was diagnosed with blood cancer, but he has insisted he is up to the leadership role.
Until the House chooses a speaker, no legislation can proceed. The current Speaker Pro Tempore is Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., who will determine the times of any speaker votes until a speaker secures the spot.
Among Louisiana's five Republican House members, only Julia Letlow had publicly supported Scalise in the week leading up to Wednesday's vote. But on Wednesday. U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette and St. Mary Parish's congressman, came out for the Metairie Republican.
In an emailed statement:
"The country and the world need a functioning Congress. We must be capable of responding to national and international crisis, and we have an obligation to elect a Speaker. None of our priorities can move forward without a Speaker - forcing significant reductions in federal spending, restoring law and order at the southern border, moving deeper into impeachment investigations, and responding to the atrocities committed against Israel.
“Both Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise are dear friends, and I’m the only individual in the Louisiana Delegation who is a core member of the House Freedom Caucus. My support for Steve is not opposition to Jim. However, we have an urgent duty to perform as a body. We must unify behind our Party’s nominee for Speaker of the House and return to serious legislative business.
“Steve was chosen as our nominee by a majority vote of the House Republican Conference. I voted for Steve in Conference, and I will stand with him on the House floor. Steve Scalise is one of the toughest men I know. He’s the leader of our Louisiana Delegation, and I have worked with him for the past seven years to advance Conservative values and deliver wins for our state. Steve has my support, and I urge my colleagues to rally behind him as the next Speaker of the House.”