Speaker Scramble

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R, LA-1) dropped out of the race to replace former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R, CA-20), leaving the immediate future of the position up in the air. Scalise had topped Rep. Jim Jordan (R, OH-4) in a Tuesday internal caucus vote, 113-99, to proceed as the party's nominee. Following the internal vote, Scalise (or any potential candidate) needed a full House majority—217 supporters, assuming all Democrats vote nay. With a slim 221-212 edge, any candidate could only lose four GOP votes. Scalise faced a number of challenges, including conservative support for Jordan and questions over his health. Scalise was injured during a mass shooting at a practice for the annual Congressional baseball game in 2017 and, more recently, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. What happens next is unclear. Observers say the moderate block is sufficiently large enough to oppose a bid by Jordan, while no alternative to the two is yet to emerge. Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R, NC-10) is expected to oversee day-to-day proceedings for the foreseeable future.