GOP Rep. Steve Scalise withdraws his bid for Speaker of the House

Republican Steve Scalise ended his bid to become House speaker late Thursday after hardline holdouts refused to back the party’s nominee, throwing the GOP majority into deeper chaos and leaving the chamber still unable to function.

Scalise told GOP colleagues at a closed-door evening meeting of his decision and pointedly declined to announce backing for anyone else, including his chief rival, Rep. Jim Jordan, the far-right Judiciary Committee chairman backed by Donald Trump who had already told colleagues he no longer would seek the job.

Next steps are uncertain as the House is essentially closed while the Republican majority tries to elect a speaker after ousting Kevin McCarthy from the job.

“I just shared with my colleagues that I’m withdrawing my name as a candidate for speaker-designee,” Scalise said as he emerged from the closed-door meeting at the Capitol.

Scalise, R-La., said the Republican majority “still has to come together and is not there.”

He had been working furiously to secure the votes after being nominated by a majority of his colleagues, but after hours of private meetings over two days and late into the evening it was clear many other Republican lawmakers were not budging from their refusal to support him.

Asked if he would throw his support behind Jordan, Scalise said, "It’s got to be people that aren’t doing it for themselves and their own personal interest.”

He said he would push quickly for a resolution. “But it wasn’t going to happen. It wasn’t going to happen today. It wasn’t going to happen tomorrow. It needs to happen soon, but I’ve withdrawn my name,” he said.

Frustrations were boiling over and some lawmakers simply walked away as the political crisis spiraled and now threatens to leave the Republican majority in turmoil for the foreseeable future.

Scalise had been laboring to peel off more than 100 votes, mostly from those who backed Jordan. But many hard-liners taking their cues from Trump have dug in for a prolonged fight to replace McCarthy after his historic ouster from the job.

The hold-outs argued that as Majority Leader Scalise was no better choice, that he should be focusing on his health as he battles cancer and that he was not the leader they would support. The House closed late in the night, with lawmakers vowing to meet again early Friday.

McCarthy said afterward that Scalise would remain as majority leader but had no other advice for his colleagues. The California Republican had briefly floated a comeback bid but that seems unlikely.

[Carjamrac]

Scalise is also fighting blood cancer right now. Really doesn’t need the stress of the Speakership right now.

[radar]

I've seen 10 year olds decide who's gonna throw out the garbage easier than these guys

[Dggb]

Trump wants Jordan that’s good enough for me.

[jonr]

The funny part I think is they are going to draw this out till the last minute when the government is on the verge of shutting down again. Remember they only have another 30 days before it comes back up. So this should be a good show.

[puertoricanboy]

Jim Jordan is still out there looking for his jacket!😢

[davemiller]

The real story would be, what dirt got dug up, or what backroon deal was made for this to happen? Why is he withdrawing? The REAL reason?

[jdmjdm]

This is what happens when you elect a group of people who only know how to tell you what the other guy is doing wrong. They can not lead!

[americanpatriot]

He comes out wearing a mask, then takes it off and puts it in his pocket to be interviewed. That's it. Bye, bye, Scalise!! You aren't the guy.

[frostbite]

Any time news about the elected Republicans in DC come up circus music plays in my head every single time.

[_NoHandle_]

Have they removed the idiotic rule that one person can call for the removal of the Speaker?
I don't see why Anyone would want the position with that rule in place. With several House members behaving like petulant children, they'd never get anything done.

[BobbieAtwood-bkpy]

If the Republicans don’t get their act together, I will vote against every single incumbent in office. You are all apparently unable to work and play well with others. So either work together or get out!!

[puertoricanboy]

Thank you, Matt Gaetz, for your efforts in disrupting the Republican party. Outstanding!

[JDWBS]

This is why McCarthy took himself out completely. This guy realized from early and did the exact same thing. I wonder how many House seats are up for grabs next month 🤔

[KonoTree]

This party can't even select a leader not alone to lead this great nation. Chaos it's what the trump era brought to the GOP. Utterly chaotic!

[genocidevirus]

Wow. Just wow…I swear there’s better decision making and coordination at my work place and we’re not even close to government.

[KamalaChameleon]

Interesting.. I wonder if the cancer made him quit.. or he thinks he'll be next to get fired.. i think both. He spoke about integrity and unity but that doesn't explain quitting

[AliciaReborn]

Louisianian here, but prefer Jim Jordan

[AmericanMicro]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA This is just too funny!!!!

[ramonponce]

Its not easy to drain the swamp . lots of RINOS

[halfbit]

Was it anything to do with the 500k steakhouse money?