Replacing Kevin McCarthy: 5 things to know about the race for House speaker
1. 2 candidates are actively seeking the speakership
Following McCarthy’s ouster, two candidates almost immediately threw their hats in the ring and began seeking support from their colleagues as they announced their bids: Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio and Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La.
Jordan, who serves as the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, announced his candidacy on Wednesday in a letter to colleagues. A spreadsheet compiled by Nathaniel Rakich of the political polling website FiveThirtyEight shows that Jordan has secured the support of 45 of his colleagues as of Monday afternoon. Jordan’s supporters include eight of the 10 Republicans who comprise his home state of Ohio’s delegation in the House and Mace, one of the eight lawmakers who voted to oust McCarthy.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) October 4, 2023
Jordan’s support also includes three Republicans running for statewide office: U.S. Senate candidates Reps. Jim Banks, R-Ind., and Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., and North Carolina Attorney General candidate Dan Bishop, R-N.C. Counting Jordan as a vote for himself increases his support to 46 members.
Scalise, who serves as House Majority Leader, also wrote a letter to colleagues Wednesday, asking for their support as he seeks the speakership. Scalise has the support of 30 of his colleagues.
It is with a strong sense of responsibility and purpose that I seek the House Republican Conference’s nomination for Speaker of the House.
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) October 4, 2023
Read my letter to my colleagues: pic.twitter.com/G6YDd2SjCD
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: [email protected]