House Republicans are scattering for a new House speaker after Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise dropped out of the race.
Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan is now the leading pick as the new Republican leader, but many have raised their concerns about the vote tally.
Florida Rep. Brian Mast, however, assured reporters that Jordan would have the votes after Scalist was unable to secure the necessary numbers.
“That’s part of the reason that reps are going home. Jim has people to speak to, he knows who he has to speak to, he’s going to work through that,” Mast said. “It’s always possible that somebody throws out another name — Newt Gingrich, Donald Trump, or whatever it is they say — but I do not anticipate another candidate forum or speaker’s race going on behind closed doors.”
Jordan has taken advantage of his newfound notoriety by becoming the lead in the House’s investigation into President Joe Biden’s impeachment, a position that has attracted support from outside the chamber. He has largely relied on media appearances with friendly news outlets to persuade his colleagues to back his campaign.
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.
Scalise, who was the initial nominee, later dropped out of the race after failing to secure enough support. He then called for the GOP to come together for the country over its members’ own political agendas.
“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,” the congressman said.
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.
