Scalise Drops out of US House Speaker Race
A day after House Republicans voted in favor of his nomination, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) on Thursday announced the end of his bid to become the chamber's speaker, citing individuals with “personal interest[s]” who refused to back him....
Facts
- A day after House Republicans voted in favor of his nomination, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) on Thursday announced the end of his bid to become the chamber's speaker, citing individuals with “personal interest[s]” who refused to back him.1
- Previously, Scalise on Wednesday defeated House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) 113-99 as part of an internal party contest for the nomination. Scalise would have needed a majority of 217 on the House floor to be elected speaker; Jordan remains a potential candidate for the role.2
- Scalise told reporters his bid to be speaker 'wasn't going to happen,' explaining that there were 'schisms that have to get resolved.'3
- Without an elected speaker, the House can’t bring forward or pass legislation. The role was vacated last week when Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was voted out.4
- Without new legislation, the US faces a federal shutdown in November. A bipartisan resolution in support of Israel is also currently unable to proceed.5
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who Democrats are expected to vote for along party lines, has called for Republicans to 'get their act together,' while encouraging them to 'break with the extremists' and 'partner with Democrats on a bipartisan path forward.'6
Sources: 1Associated Press, 2NPR Online News, 3BBC News, 4USA Today, 5VOA and 6The Hill.
Narratives
- Republican narrative, as provided by PJ Media. Scalise made the right move backing out, it's just too bad he didn’t do it sooner because then we could have figured out where the rest of the caucus stands on Jordan or the alternatives. Jordan could be a perfect fit for this role, and whether it’s him or someone else, Republicans very soon intend to converge on a solution.
- Democratic narrative, as provided by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. All Republicans have done since McCarthy's ousting is fight amongst themselves. Such embarrassing behavior is not fit for any office, let alone within the House. Meanwhile, Democrats remain a unified force within the US, which should pay off in the long run — particularly the next time voters go to the polls to pick a new House majority.
