House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has dropped out of the race for House speaker after being unable to secure the necessary votes.
Scalise made the announcement following a closed-door meeting with fellow House Republicans on Thursday. He then called for the GOP to come together for the country over its members’ own political agendas.
“If you look at over the last few weeks, if you look at where our conferences there’s still work to be done. Our conference still has to come together and is not there. There are still some people that have their own agendas. And I was very clear we have to have everybody put their agendas on the side and focus on what this country needs. This country is counting on us to come back together,” he said in a press conference.
“This House of Representatives needs a speaker, and we need to open up the House again. But clearly, not everybody is there. And they’re still schisms that have to get resolved. I never came here for a title I’ve had some great titles. I’m the Majority Leader of the House, and I love the job I have,” he added.
The Lousiana congressman went on to push for a new speaker to be elected immediatedly but did not name any potential candidates.
“I’ve cut no deals with anybody. I’m sure there will be a lot of people that look at it. But it’s got to be people that aren’t doing it for themselves and their own personal interests,” Scalise said.
This comes after California Rep. Kevin McCarthy was ousted from his role as House speaker by Republican Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who filed the original motion to vacate the California congressman’s chair.
Conservatives have primarily focused their opposition on perceived failures by GOP leadership to put Democrats on the defensive while also relying on spending package deals to pass a variety of bills they believe should be subjected to standalone votes.
With the aid of Democrats, McCarthy passed a very short-term government funding bill last week, angering those who felt that the supposed Republican leader put political expediency over ideology.
