Rep. Steve Scalise drops out of House speaker race
Rep. Steve Scalise made a significant announcement on Thursday night, revealing his withdrawal from the House Speaker race. His decision followed his inability to garner enough support from the House Republican Conference to advance his candidacy to the floor for a vote.
In a press statement, Rep. Steve Scalise, a representative from Louisiana, expressed his reasons for this unexpected move. He noted, “If you look at over the last few weeks if you look at where our conference is, there’s still work to be done. Our conference still has to come together and is not there.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise speaks to reporters as he leaves a House Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 12, 2023 in Washington, DC.
Rep. Steve Scalise’s statement hinted at a sense of disunity within the Republican ranks, and he appeared critical of those opposing him. He mentioned, “Some people still have their own agendas”, emphasizing the need for unity in addressing the country’s challenges.
House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, who narrowly lost to Rep. Steve Scalise in a secret ballot on Wednesday by a vote of 113-99, shared his optimism about Republicans uniting around a single candidate for speaker on the following day. He stated, “I think that’ll happen tomorrow as we go through the process, but that’s tomorrow at 10. Any announcement about what may or may not happen — I think that’s best done tomorrow.”
House Republicans are scrambling to find a nominee for House speaker after Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) dropped out of the race as he was struggling to get the necessary 217 votes to get elected by the full chamber.
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 13, 2023
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Scalise’s exit from the race came soon after he secured the party’s nomination, narrowly defeating Rep. Jim Jordan in a private ballot. Despite the win, he lacked the necessary 217 votes to become the speaker. Consequently, he began the process of meeting with party members who still needed to commit to supporting him.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, talks with reporters following a conference in his office after losing the Republican nomination for speaker to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023
Rep. Steve Scalise acknowledged the existing divisions in his announcement and stated, “There’s still schisms that have to get resolved.” However, he expressed contentment with remaining the House Majority Leader, the second-highest-ranking Republican in the House.
“I never came here for title,” Steve Scalise emphasized. “I’ve had the challenges. I’ve been tested in ways that put perspective on life — the 2017 shooting — when I didn’t know if I was going to make it out alive, taught me what’s important in life. And that’s my family, my faith, and I’m blessed beyond belief.” Notably, Scalise endured a shooting incident during a yearly Congressional Baseball Game rehearsal in 2017. He was critically injured, sustaining a gunshot wound to the hip.
Although he withdrew from the race, Scalise remains committed to addressing the issues within the GOP. He affirmed his dedication to steering the party in the right direction, stating, “I have absolutely all the right perspective, and I still have a deep, deep passion for making sure we get our country back on track and get our conference fixed.”
In conclusion, Rep. Steve Scalise encouraged some members to reflect on their positions, saying, “[There are] some folks that really need to look in the mirror over the next couple of days and decide, are we going to get back on track? Are they going to try to pursue their agenda? You can’t do both.”
Regarding his stance on supporting another candidate for speaker, Rep. Steve Scalise disclosed that he has yet to make any agreements and is still deciding who he will endorse, emphasizing the need for a candidate who prioritizes the party’s interests over personal ambitions.
The House Republicans are scheduled to meet the following Friday at 10 a.m. ET to strategize their way forward. Although other lawmakers might enter the race alongside Jordan, it appears that the momentum is now behind the Ohio representative, even though he previously lost to Scalise in a head-to-head contest. Jordan respected Scalise by not providing further comments about the emerging support for his candidacy.
