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Republicans in Washington were facing a daunting challenge on Friday with the sudden withdrawal of Steve Scalise from the race for Speaker of the House. This unexpected move left Scalise’s party without a clear successor to Kevin McCarthy.
Scalise, a representative from Louisiana and the current House majority leader, abruptly ended his campaign for the position late on Thursday. Just one day earlier, he had secured the support of a narrow majority of House Republicans in a secret ballot against Jim Jordan, the congressman from Ohio and chair of the House judiciary committee.
However, Scalise failed to rally the party behind him, making it highly unlikely for him to win the final vote on the House floor. As Republicans only hold a slight majority over Democrats, unity is crucial for success.
House Republicans may hold another secret ballot as early as Friday afternoon to select a new nominee. Jordan is expected to be in contention once again, but it remains uncertain how many colleagues will challenge him for the role.
Adding to the mix, Austin Scott, the Republican congressman from Georgia, has entered the race, expressing his desire to lead a House that functions in the best interest of the American people.
On Thursday, Scott told CNN that there were individuals in his party who were more focused on gaining TV exposure than negotiating for the benefit of the American people. He further criticized the party’s inability to choose a leader, stating that it made them appear foolish.
Scalise’s withdrawal is the latest development in a tumultuous two weeks in Washington. In this period, lawmakers narrowly averted a government shutdown before facing a rebellion from a small group of Republican hardliners who aimed to remove McCarthy from his position.
House Republicans convened again on Friday morning, with Jordan expected to launch a new bid. However, it remains unclear whether he will face any challengers or encounter the same obstacles as Scalise.
This impasse has significant implications for American leadership both domestically and internationally. The House cannot legislate until a Speaker is selected, which obstructs a government funding deal ahead of an approaching deadline next month. It also puts at risk further US aid to Ukraine and Israel.
According to the US Constitution, the Speaker must be elected by a simple majority of the House. Given the slim majority of Republicans, Scalise could not afford to lose more than a few votes from within his own party, especially with Democrats indicating they were unwilling to support him.
Scalise placed blame on his fellow Republicans for prioritizing their self-interests over the good of the country.
“There are individuals who need to reflect on their actions in the coming days and decide whether we will get back on track,” he said upon announcing his withdrawal. “Or if they will continue to pursue their own agenda. Both cannot be achieved simultaneously.”
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