Less than 24 hours after the House GOP nominated Majority Leader Steve Scalise to be the next Speaker, the Louisiana Republican who has served in Congress for 15 years reportedly is expected to drop out of the race. Nine days ago Republicans ousted their elected Speaker, Kevin McCarthy.
Newsmax late Thursday morning (video below) reports Scalise is unable to corral enough votes, and, according to their sources, “is expected to drop out of the race” as soon as today.
Any nominee will need at least 217 votes to become Speaker of the House. Scalise won the nomination with just 113 votes, beating Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan who received just 99 votes. But far-right House extremists, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, Nancy Mace, and George Santos among others, after Scalise became the nominee, pledged to vote for Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan.
“It’s just past 9:40pm and I have yet to hear from the Speaker-Designate,” Rep. Santos, now under criminal indictment on 23 felony charges, wrote on social media Wednesday night. “So I’ve made my decision and after 10 months and having had 0 contact or outreach from him, I’ve come to the conclusion that my VOTE doesn’t matter to him.”
“I’m now declaring I’m an ANYONE but Scalise and come hell or high water I won’t change my mind,” he added, later throwing his support to Jim Jordan. “We need a Speaker that leads by including every single member of the team not just some, That’s not leadership!”
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Earlier Thursday Punchbowl News reported Scalise was having trouble convincing enough Republicans to back him, despite Jordan’s endorsement after losing the nominating race.
Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has consistently won the unanimous votes of the entire Democratic Caucus, 212. He could become Speaker if just five Republicans vote for him.
Chairman Jordan would likely re-enter the race, as would GOP Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Newsmax reports.
Punchbowl News, which published a partial list of anti-Scalise Republicans, reports “the real hard-core ‘Never Scalise’ vote is probably 20 to 30 members, although it’s hard to estimate. Scalise can only afford to lose four votes on the floor.”
Earlier Thursday Politico reported Scalise’s allies see a path forward for him.
Experts suggest no House business can be conducted – no legislation voted on or passed – until a Speaker is in place. That means any potential funding for Israel is on hold until Republicans choose a leader. And any funding for Ukraine, given both Jordan’s and Scalise’s positions, is unlikely even after a Speaker is chosen.
There are now just five weeks and one day before the government will shut down if legislation to fund the government is not passed and signed into law.
Watch below or at this link.