Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) speak to reporters during a break in testimony from Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, director for European Affairs at the National Security Council, as part of the U.S. House of Representatives impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Trump led by the House Intelligence, House Foreign Affairs and House Oversight and Reform Committees on Capitol Hill in Washington, October 29, 2019.
Erin Scott | Reuters
WASHINGTON — The House speaker’s gavel is up for grabs for the second time this year, and once again, the Republican caucus faces a potential division along ideological lines.
Reps. Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise are the frontrunners vying to replace Kevin McCarthy, who was removed as speaker in a surprising move on Tuesday.
However, there is a wildcard candidate being floated by two House members—Donald Trump, the former and potential president who is currently facing multiple criminal indictments and major civil lawsuits.
Republicans have scheduled a speaker candidate forum for next Tuesday, with a possible vote the following day.
Judiciary Committee chairman Jordan was the first to publicly announce his candidacy. In his letter to GOP colleagues, he emphasized the importance of passing bills, conducting oversight, and controlling spending.
Jordan received public support from colleagues such as Rep. Darrell Issa of California and Rep. Tom Massie of Kentucky.
Known for his partisan and aggressive approach to oversight, Jordan is ready to challenge Democrats and the White House.
On the other hand, Majority Leader Scalise conveyed a different message in his letter to colleagues. He emphasized the need for unity within the Republican Conference and highlighted his personal experiences, including his near-fatal shooting in 2017 and recent cancer diagnosis.
Scalise is positioning himself as a consensus builder who can unite a fractured caucus.
Scalise has earned support from those within his and McCarthy’s wing of the party. Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota expressed his belief that Scalise would be an excellent speaker.
However, with a bitterly divided caucus and little room for error, securing the 218 votes needed to become speaker will be a difficult task.
One potential consensus candidate is Rep. Kevin Hearn of Oklahoma, leader of the Republican Study Committee, a conservative caucus in the House with a majority of GOP lawmakers among its members.
Hearn has indicated his interest in running, but is currently gauging support from allies.
Another name being mentioned is current speaker pro tempore, Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, who is seen as McCarthy’s closest ally in Congress. McHenry has not formally announced his candidacy.
If Republicans fail to elect a new speaker next week, McHenry could use the additional time to build support for a permanent role.
Whoever is elected will likely need the support of Donald Trump, the current frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.
Interestingly, two House members have suggested Trump as a potential speaker, even though it is not a requirement for the position. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia publicly voiced her support for Trump on social media, while Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas expressed his intention to nominate Trump.
Trump, who is currently facing a civil business fraud trial in Manhattan, responded to questions about becoming speaker by stating he will do what is best for the country and the Republican Party.
Several hours later, Trump posted an image of himself holding the House speaker’s gavel in the House chamber without any accompanying text.
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