Steve Scalise, House Majority Leader, seeks Speaker position.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise Announces Bid for Speaker of the House
In an exciting turn of events, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) has officially announced his candidacy for Speaker of the House. This sets the stage for a potential showdown between Scalise and House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH).
Fox News was the first to report this breaking news, revealing that Scalise will be throwing his hat in the ring to replace the recently ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
Just last night, the House voted 216-210 to remove McCarthy from his position as speaker, a role he had held since January. This surprising turn of events saw eight Republicans join forces with Democrats to vote against McCarthy, citing frustrations with his leadership.
Scalise’s name had been floated as a possible replacement for McCarthy by Representative Matt Gaetz (FL). And now, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (MN) has officially endorsed Scalise for the Speaker’s role. Emmer himself will be running for House Majority Leader, while Representative Guy Reschenthaler (PA) will be vying for Majority Whip.
Newsy gaggle just now:
-EMMER confirms he’s running for majority leader
-RESCHENTHALER confirms he’s running for majority whip
-EMMER endorses Scalise for Speaker
All said while they were leaving the meeting with the Texas delegation
— Mychael Schnell (@mychaelschnell) October 4, 2023
A spokesman for Jordan has also confirmed his plan to run for speaker. Jordan expressed his confidence in an interview, stating, “I’ve had a lot of people reach out to us, asking me to do it, because I think we can. We’ll see if that happens, but I think I can.”
Interestingly, some Republican lawmakers have suggested that former President Donald J. Trump should take on the role of Speaker. Trump himself addressed these calls, stating that he would do whatever is best for the country and the Republican Party.
JUST IN: Donald Trump confirms from the New York courthouse that he has been asked about becoming the House Speaker, says he would do it.
That would be epic 🔥
“All I can say is we’ll do whatever’s best for the country and for the Republican Party.”
“A lot of people have asked… pic.twitter.com/fx3AKlhS17
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 4, 2023
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While the speaker does not have to be an elected official, there have been suggestions that former Congressman and 2022 New York gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin could fill the slot. In the meantime, Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC) has taken on the role of temporary speaker as lawmakers work towards determining the final candidate for the gavel.
Daniel Chaitin contributed to this story.
This is a developing story; please check back for updates.
Who are the main contenders in the race for Speaker of the House and what makes them strong candidates?
This announcement from Scalise comes as no surprise to many, as he has long been considered a rising star within the Republican Party. Scalise has been a key figure in House leadership since 2014, when he was elected House Majority Whip. He was later elevated to the position of House Majority Leader in 2019.
During his tenure in leadership, Scalise has been a staunch advocate for conservative values and has played a pivotal role in advancing the Republican agenda. His experience and knowledge of the inner workings of Congress make him a strong contender for the Speaker’s position.
However, Scalise will face tough competition from Representative Jim Jordan, who is widely regarded as a conservative firebrand within the party. Jordan, who currently serves as the House Judiciary Chair, has garnered a strong following among the more conservative members of Congress.
The race for Speaker promises to be a contentious one, with both Scalise and Jordan vying for the support of their colleagues. It remains to be seen who will ultimately secure the position, as there are likely to be additional candidates entering the race in the coming weeks.
The role of Speaker of the House is a crucial one, as the Speaker is responsible for setting the legislative agenda and guiding the direction of the House. The Speaker also serves as the public face of the House and plays a key role in shaping the public perception of Congress.
While the Speaker is traditionally chosen by the majority party in the House, there have been instances in the past where members from the minority party have received support from across the aisle. This could come into play if Scalise or Jordan fail to secure enough support from their fellow Republicans.
It is worth noting that the Speaker’s race will likely unfold against the backdrop of ongoing debates and negotiations on key policy issues such as infrastructure, healthcare, and voting rights. The Speaker will play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome of these debates, making the race all the more important for Republicans as they seek to advance their legislative priorities.
As the race for Speaker heats up, all eyes will be on Scalise and Jordan as they compete for the support of their colleagues. The outcome of this contest will have far-reaching implications for the future direction of the Republican Party and the House of Representatives as a whole.
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