In a confidential ballot, Republicans have selected Steve Scalise as their nominee for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, triumphing over contender Jim Jordan with a count of 113 votes to 99.
The nomination of Steve Scalise happened during a closed-door meeting held at the US Capitol.
The Speaker of the House holds a pivotal role in the US government, overseeing the lower chamber of Congress. The next step in the process involves a full House vote, where a simple majority of 217 votes is required to secure the position.
Wednesday evening saw the House adjourn as Mr. Steve Scalise worked to secure enough votes within his party. The timing for the floor vote remains uncertain, with acting Speaker Patrick McHenry responding with “we’ll see” when questioned about it. He further mentioned that Mr. Scalise is entitled to gather support for the floor vote and decide on the timing.
Speaking to reporters after the secret ballot, Mr. Steve Scalise stressed the importance of filling the Speaker role, particularly in an increasingly “dangerous world.” He emphasized the need to send a message that “the House is open.”
On the Democratic side, New York’s Hakeem Jeffries has been put forward as their Speaker candidate. However, as the minority party, their nominee has a limited chance of reaching the required 217 votes.
The Republican Party has grappled with internal divisions in recent weeks, struggling to reach a consensus on Mr. McCarthy’s replacement. The narrow margin of Mr. Scalise’s victory underscores the schisms within the party. Some lawmakers remain skeptical that he has gathered the necessary votes to secure the Speaker position.
Kentucky’s Thomas Massie, for instance, expressed his opposition to Mr. Scalise, citing budget disagreements as the reason for his “hard no” vote in the initial round. He believes that at least 20 other Republicans share his sentiment, which exceeds the five votes Mr. Scalise can afford to lose. Several other Republican representatives, including Colorado’s Lauren Boebert, Georgia’s Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Florida’s Anna Paulina Luna, have indicated their intention not to vote for Mr. Scalise.
Texas Congressman Chip Roy has also taken a “hard no” stance, arguing that the vote was rushed to the floor. He emphasized the uncertainty surrounding Mr. Scalise’s support within the party, cautioning against rushing the process.
Steve Scalise followed a more traditional path in this race, climbing the party’s leadership ladder, establishing himself as a skilled fundraiser, and nurturing connections with a wide range of interest groups and constituencies.
In contrast, Jim Jordan represented the outsider perspective, gaining prominence through conservative TV appearances, fiery rhetoric, and confrontational speeches in committee hearings. Despite Mr. Trump’s endorsement, it was not sufficient to secure victory.
One of the anti-Scalise Republicans, Texas’ Troy Nehls, highlighted the former president’s endorsement as the reason he still supported Mr. Jordan, noting that “that’s what Donald Trump wanted.”
Steve Scalise’s victory underscores that, behind closed doors with secret ballots, the former president’s influence within the party, at least in the House of Representatives, may not be as robust as his polling popularity suggests.
Nonetheless, Mr. Scalise faces the task of ensuring the support of at least 217 out of the 221 Republicans when the full House gathers to vote for the Speaker. The slender Republican majority previously posed a challenge for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and Mr. Scalise must exhibit political skill to avert a similar outcome.
