Scalise Does Not Have Votes to Be Speaker, Trump Favorite Expected to Re-Enter the Race
House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana needs 217 votes to win House Speaker on Thursday. But he’ll be at least 20 votes short, one Republican leader said, leaving the door open for Trump-backed Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio to take the victory.
Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky said at least 20 Republicans won’t be voting for Scalise, citing reasons such as political differences and health concerns, Newsmax reported. Scalise has been battling cancer.
🚨 #BREAKING: Steve Scalise will NOT be able to secure the 217 votes necessary to become Speaker, and is expected to WITHDRAW from the race today@RepThomasMassie (R-KY) says at least 20 Republicans will not be voting for Scalise
Jim Jordan is expected to jump back into the… pic.twitter.com/f9lBYaWFoZ
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 12, 2023
Scalise defeated Jordan 113-99 votes during the House Republican Conference’s nomination for speaker on Wednesday.
But Jordan has not publicly stated any desire of the position. In fact, since the Wednesday vote, as a gesture of good will, Jordan has encouraged Republicans to vote for Scalise.
“I think it’s important we come together, and I’ve offered to nominate Steve on the House floor,” Jordan said.
Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida seemed to support Scalise, too, which came as a surprise to many, as some have called Scalise “McCarthy 2.0.“
“I’m excited for him. Can’t wait to go vote for Steve Scalise. Long live Speaker Scalise,” Gaetz told reporters Wednesday.
Q: What’s your reaction now that Scalise has the votes for Speaker elect?
Rep. Matt Gaetz: “I’m excited for him. I can’t wait to go vote for him. Long live Speaker Scalise.” pic.twitter.com/ejZFfFOX9b
— CSPAN (@cspan) October 11, 2023
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia tweeted Thursday morning that she would be supporting Jordan.
“I’m supporting Jim Jordan for Speaker. I’m not supporting Scalise. I like Steve Scalise, and as I said, I want him to beat cancer, and he should be focused on that,” Greene wrote on X.
I’m supporting Jim Jordan for Speaker. I’m not supporting Scalise. I like Steve Scalise, and as I said, I want him to beat cancer, and he should be focused on that.
What I do think is an unfair and quite frankly disgusting attack is members of our conference using..
🧵 THREAD pic.twitter.com/BkJ4r6DOZZ
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) October 12, 2023
Rep. Chip Roy of Texas will also be voting for Jordan, according to Fox News.
Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Jordan for speaker. “I just don’t know how you can do the job when you have such a serious problem,” Trump said about Scalise and his cancer diagnosis in an interview, according to CNN.
For Scalise to win, those who voted for Jordan on Wednesday, as well as the majority of the nine Republicans who didn’t vote, would now need to vote for Scalise, which does not seem likely.
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