House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) has emerged as one of the leading contenders to replace Kevin McCarthy in the speaker’s chair after the California Republican’s unprecedented ouster from the post on Tuesday.
Who is Steve Scalise?
Scalise, 57, has represented Louisiana’s 1st Congressional District in the lower house since 2008.
He is up for re-election in November 2024 and has declared his candidacy for next year’s race.
The former computer systems engineer first got involved in politics in the mid-’90s, serving as a state representative in the Bayou State from 1995-2007.
Scalise nearly died in June 2017 after he was shot by a left-wing fanatic while practicing for the annual Congressional Baseball Game in Alexandria, Va.
Scalise, 57, has represented Louisiana’s 1st Congressional District in the lower house since 2008 and currently serves as the House Majority leader.Getty ImagesScalise nearly died in June 2017 after he was shot by a left-wing fanatic while practicing for the annual Congressional Baseball Game in Virginia, but has since has fully recovered.AP
In November 2022, the father of two was selected by his Republican colleagues to serve as House majority leader – the second-highest leadership position in the lower house.
The closed-door vote was reportedly unanimous, according to reports.
Scalise, a former House minority and majority whip, accepted the role of majority leader, which required figuring out the work schedule and setting the agenda.
McCarthy ousted as speaker – now what?
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted as House speaker after a historic vote led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) has been appointed as interim speaker until a new speaker can be chosen.
The hall has never removed and replaced speakers before in its 234-year history.
Multiple representatives have been floated as potential speakers, but it is unclear who will replace McCarthy at this time.
Nancy Pelosi has been ousted from her office on Capitol Hill by the speaker pro tempore.
McCarthy blasted Gaetz in a confrontational interview with reporters, blasting the Florida congressman as a fake conservative and calling his actions “personal.”
“We will work to provide an agenda focused on the struggles facing hardworking families, including passing bills through the House to reduce inflation, lower energy costs, protect the border, and help law enforcement officers get the tools they need to keep them. our community is safe from rampant crime,” Scalise said after the vote.
“I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work fighting for struggling families as the new House Majority Leader.”
Scalise announced in August that he had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer.
The congressman described the cancer as “very treatable” and said that he had already begun treatment, which he said would continue “for the next several months.”
“I look forward to working through this period and intend to return to Washington, continue my work as Majority Leader and serve the people of Louisiana’s 1st Congressional District,” Scalise said of how his diagnosis will affect his work on Capitol Hill.
In August, Scalise announced he had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, but said the disease was “very treatable.”
Is Scalise interested in becoming the next speaker of the House?
It is likely. The veteran congressman would not rule out the possibility that he would seek to replace McCarthy when asked by reporters Tuesday.
“I enjoyed working with Tom [Emmer] and our leadership team, and we have a lot of work to do. But I didn’t make any official announcement,” Scalise said.
The majority leader is already in the process of gauging GOP support for his potential bid for the speakership, according to various report.
Since McCarthy’s ouster, Scalise has reportedly called conservatives who opposed the former House speaker and the Republican delegations of Texas and Florida, according to Punchbowl News – which states that the call has “went well”.
The majority leader is already in the process of gauging GOP support for his potential bid for speaker, according to multiple reports.Ron Sachs – CNP
Who is backing Scalise’s potential speaker bid?
“Steve Scalise is our leader. If he wants it, then I think most likely he will be the leader — speaker candidate,” Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) told reporters Tuesday, according to Politico.
Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who introduced the motion to remove McCarthy on Monday, has also said that he thinks “very highly” of Scalise.
“I would probably vote for Steve Scalise,” Gaetz said Monday, adding that there are probably 100 Republican caucus members he would support.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (left) and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik are two representatives who could enter the race to become the next speaker.Getty Images
Who can challenge Scalise for speaker?
Gaetz has reportedly floated House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), House Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) as possible replacements for McCarthy.
Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) announced on Tuesday that he will nominate former President Donald Trump to be the next speaker of the House.
“Kevin McCarthy will NOT run for Speaker again. I am nominating Donald J. Trump for Speaker of the House,” Nehls tweeted.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who voted in favor of McCarthy’s ouster, suggested on Monday that Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) would also be a good speaker.
House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) is another name that may come up. Stefanik is the highest-ranking GOP woman in Congress and an ally of 2024 Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump.
It is unclear whether any of those potential candidates will put themselves forward.
When will we find out who is the next speaker of the House?
Unclear.
Congress MPs have been advised that there will not be any vote for the rest of the week.
The GOP conference will hold a candidate forum on Oct. 10. and the election by the full House is scheduled to take place on Oct. 11.
Since McCarthy’s ouster, Scalise has reportedly called conservatives who oppose the former House speaker and the Republican delegations of Texas and Florida. The Washington Post via Getty Images
Lawmakers can nominate any individual they wish for the speakership, followed by a roll call vote.
Members of the assembly are not bound to vote solely for the nominated individual, and the winner must win by a simple majority of those voting for the candidate (meaning “present” votes lower the required support threshold).
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