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The Wall Street Journal: House Republicans have nominated Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana as their candidate for Speaker of the House, edging out Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio in a 113-99 vote. The nomination occurred in a closed-door meeting, with no cellphones allowed, where both candidates had presented their pitches. Scalise, who is currently the chamber’s majority leader, was chosen over Jordan, a staunch conservative backed by former President Donald Trump. The selection follows the recent ouster of Kevin McCarthy, and a full vote for the speaker position could happen as soon as later in the day.
Although Scalise has won the nomination, he still needs to secure enough votes for election on the House floor. The House is currently split 221-212 in favor of Republicans, leaving little room for maneuver. A previous proposal to require the winning candidate to secure 217 votes, the number needed for election on the floor, was blocked. Without a speaker, the House has been unable to vote on any legislation, raising concerns about potential impacts on government operations and pending bills.
Lawmakers aim to move quickly to avoid a repeat of the lengthy process that eventually led to McCarthy’s election and subsequent removal. However, some Republicans caution that reaching the 217-vote threshold on the floor may prove difficult, pointing to the possibility of another contentious vote for the speakership.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.wsj.com/politics/republican-speaker-vote-jim-jordan-stevescalise-2419cbf6?mod=hp_lead_pos1
