House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) won an internal GOP vote for House Speaker over House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) by a 113-99 vote.
🚨 BREAKING: Rep. Steve Scalise wins closed-door GOP nomination for Speaker with 113 votes, Rep. Jim Jordan came in second with 99 votes, 8 voted “present”
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 11, 2023
BREAKING NOW: Steve Scalise wins GOP conference ballot to become the next Speaker of the House..
THOUGHTS? pic.twitter.com/GvgP224PgH
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) October 11, 2023
However, many conservative analysts are unhappy with the results.
“This is everything you need to know about Steve Scalise for Speaker Can’t happen Has to be Jim Jordan to avoid WW3,” DC Draino commented.
This is everything you need to know about Steve Scalise for Speaker
Can’t happen
Has to be Jim Jordan to avoid WW3 pic.twitter.com/9xAnxdERXz
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) October 11, 2023
“Scalise is a nice guy but let’s remember, Scalise is a descendant of Kevin McCarthy, a descendant of Paul Ryan, a descendant of John Boehner. Republicans: This is your chance to end the Swamp’s corrupt business as usual — it’s time for real change!” Lou Dobbs wrote.
Scalise is a nice guy but let's remember, Scalise is a descendant of Kevin McCarthy, a descendant of Paul Ryan, a descendant of John Boehner. Republicans: This is your chance to end the Swamp's corrupt business as usual — it's time for real change! #TheGreatAmericaShow https://t.co/stPxEf7MHr
— Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) October 4, 2023
“113 RINOS part from Jim Jordan. What a disgrace — Scalise is McCarthy in the flesh. It’s time for the conservatives in the party to rise up once again and reject RINOS from leadership!” Dobbs said in reaction to the internal GOP voting results.
113 RINOS part from Jim Jordan. What a disgrace — Scalise is McCarthy in the flesh. It's time for the conservatives in the party to rise up once again and reject RINOS from leadership! #TheGreatAmericaShow https://t.co/hwfhdCP8s1
— Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) October 11, 2023
Although Scalise won the internal GOP vote, several House Republicans said they will not support the Louisiana public servant for House Speaker.
“I just voted for Jim Jordan for Speaker on a private ballot in conference, and I will be voting for Jim Jordan on the House floor,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said.
I just voted for Jim Jordan for Speaker on a private ballot in conference, and I will be voting for Jim Jordan on the House floor.
I like Steve Scalise, and I like him so much that I want to see him defeat cancer more than sacrifice his health in the most difficult position in…
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) October 11, 2023
I just voted for Jim Jordan for Speaker on a private ballot in conference, and I will be voting for Jim Jordan on the House floor.
I like Steve Scalise, and I like him so much that I want to see him defeat cancer more than sacrifice his health in the most difficult position in Congress.
I lost my father to cancer and it’s a very serious battle.
We need a Speaker who is able to put their full efforts into defeating the communist democrats and save America.
We must stop funding foreign wars – Ukraine.
We must stop the weaponized government and hold them accountable.
We must secure our border.
We must protect our kids.
And we need a full leadership team dedicated to this fight in these unprecedented times.
“I will be voting for Jim Jordan to be Speaker of the House on the floor when the vote is called,” Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) commented.
I will be voting for Jim Jordan to be Speaker of the House on the floor when the vote is called.
In conference, Jordan received 99 votes and Scalise received 113.
We had a chance to unify the party behind closed doors, but the Swamp and K Street lobbyists prevented that.
The…
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) October 11, 2023
I will be voting for Jim Jordan to be Speaker of the House on the floor when the vote is called.
In conference, Jordan received 99 votes and Scalise received 113.
We had a chance to unify the party behind closed doors, but the Swamp and K Street lobbyists prevented that.
The American people deserve a real change in leadership, not a continuation of the status quo.
“I will be voting for Jim Jordan for Speaker on the floor,” Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) said.
I will be voting for Jim Jordan for Speaker on the floor.
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) October 11, 2023
The Hill reports:
Speaker-designate Steve Scalise (R-La.) is struggling to win the support he will need to be elected to the top spot on the House floor, signaling what could be a sequel to his predecessor’s fight to win the gavel in January.
Scalise scored a victory Wednesday by defeating House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in the conference’s internal vote to become the GOP nominee for Speaker. But the tally was a slim 113-99 victory, with around a dozen votes for others or “present” — and even after Jordan swung his support to Scalise following the vote, it was unclear if his supporters would do the same.
At least seven Republicans say they plan to back someone other than Scalise; at least six others say they are undecided; and some have declined to comment on who they will stand behind — enough resistance to deny Scalise the Speakership on the House floor.
Democrats are expected to unite behind Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) as their preferred Speaker, just as they did in lockstep through 15 ballots in January. That means Scalise, just like deposed Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), can only afford a handful of Republican defections.
But a second floor fight for the Speakership — a sequel to McCarthy’s marathon battle in January — would come with a dangerous backdrop: a war in Israel and a November government funding deadline, both of which loom over the divided GOP conference.
According to Axios, Jordan offered to nominate Scalise after the GOP internal vote results.
Per Axios:
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) offered to nominate Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) during the House speaker vote after Scalise won the GOP’s nomination on Wednesday.
Scalise prevailed over Jordan in the internal GOP vote, but a handful of lawmakers emerged voicing plans to back other candidates on the floor, putting Scalise’s odds of securing the position in jeopardy.
Jordan’s support could sway some defectors vowing to vote for him on the floor despite falling short of the support needed to beat Scalise.
“Jordan offered Scalise to give a nominating speech on his behalf,” a senior GOP source confirmed to Axios.
Members including Reps. Max Miller (R-Ohio), Troy Nehls (R-Texas), Mary Miller (R-Ill.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) have stated plans to vote for Jordan during the House floor roll call vote.Some of Scalise’s defectors go beyond conservative hardliners, with some McCarthy allies voicing plans to vote against him.