Scalise Speaker Withdrawal Signals More Congressional Chaos

Rep. Jim Jordan looks on as Rep. Steve Scalise (left) speaks to the press in April of 2023. (Photo by Ting Shen/via Getty Images)

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) narrowly emerged with a victory on Wednesday night after securing a nomination for speaker during a closed-door secret-ballot contest among House Republicans. Scalise beat out Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) by a vote of 113-99, but this count was far from the 217 votes needed to be elected formally on the US House floor.

Over the last few days, it has become clear that many right-wing Republicans are unwilling to ultimately switch their allegiance on a floor vote to support Scalise and elect him Speaker. Congress remains without any real leadership at a time when the country is desperate for domestic leadership and the world is looking to the United States for international strength.

“I just shared with my colleagues that I was withdrawing my name as a candidate for speaker-designee,” Mr. Scalise said on Thursday. “If you look at where our conference is, there’s still work to be done. Our conference still has to come together, and it’s not there. There are still some people that have their own agendas.”