Steve Scalise thanks House Republican for nominating him for Speaker
Rep Steve Scalise is now facing an uphill battle after he won the Republican nomination to become the next speaker of the House of Representatives.
The Majority Leader and Louisiana congressman defeated Donald Trump-endorsed Rep Jim Jordan to narrowly win the Republican Party’s nomination on Wednesday in a 113-99 vote to replace Kevin McCarthy.
Party members voted behind closed doors on Wednesday morning.
But the party declined to call a vote of the whole chamber later that day as questions remain as to whether he has enough support from his party to take the gavel.
Mr Scalise can only afford to lose four Republican votes to take the role.
Several Republicans including far-right MAGA lawmakers Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene have already said that they will still vote for Mr Jordan on the House floor.
Ms Greene claimed that she wouldn’t vote for Mr Scalise due to his health issues.
It could be some time before the House has a speaker again. In January, the House went through a staggering 15 votes before Mr McCarthy finally surpassed the vote threshold.
