Race for Speaker Begins

Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R, LA-1) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R, OH-4) announced yesterday they are running for House speaker, setting up a showdown to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R, CA-20), who this week became the first speaker in US history to be removed from office.

Scalise, 57, and Jordan, 59, are considered the frontrunners in the race. Scalise, who was the second-highest-ranking Republican, was wounded in 2017 after a gunman opened fire during a congressional baseball practice and was more recently diagnosed with blood cancer. Jordan is a cofounder of the House Freedom Caucus and was first nominated for the speaker role in January by Republicans who opposed McCarthy, though he chose to support McCarthy at the time.

Republican Study Committee Chairman Kevin Hern (OK-1) is also considering running for speaker. Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R, MN-6), who is backing Scalise and was seen as a potential speaker candidate, is running for majority leader. Contenders for speaker will make their case at a forum Tuesday, with an expected vote tentatively set for Wednesday.