Roughly twenty-four hours after the House of Representatives voted to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the speakership, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) have announced their intention to run for Speaker of the House.
Both announced their candidacy on X — the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Rep. Jordan made an appeal to members of the Republican caucus to support him in his efforts to replace Rep. McCarthy.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) October 4, 2023
“The American people have entrusted us to lead the House of Representatives. Our majority has had success in the first nine months of the 118th Congress,” Jordan wrote. “We should be proud of what we have achieved together in these divided times.”
Jordan’s statement then went on to emphasize his opposition to the Democrat lawmakers’ agenda and his criticisms of the impact their policies have had on the country.
“But our work is not done. Far-left progressive policies are destroying our communities, our security, and our future,” Jordan continued. “The Republican majority must continue to address the issues that matter to the American people.”
“We agreed at the beginning of the Congress that there are three fundamental things the House must do: pass the bills that need to be passed, do the oversight, and rein in the spending,” Jordan said.
“We are at a critical crossroad in our nation’s history. Now is the time for our Republican conference to come together to keep our promises to Americans,” Jordan said. “The problems we face are challenging, but they are not insurmountable. We can focus on the changes that improve the country and unite us in offering real solutions.”
“But no matter what we do, we must do it together as a conference,” Jordan concluded. “I respectfully ask for your support for Speaker of the House of Representatives.”
Rep. Scalise also announced his intention to run for the speakership earlier today.
It is with a strong sense of responsibility and purpose that I seek the House Republican Conference’s nomination for Speaker of the House.
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) October 4, 2023
Read my letter to my colleagues: pic.twitter.com/G6YDd2SjCD
“It is with a strong sense of responsibility and purpose that I seek the House Republican Conference’s nomination for Speaker of the House,” Scalise wrote in a post on X, attaching a more in-depth letter appealing to his fellow Republican representatives.
“We all came here to save this country from being taken down a dangerous path of destruction,” Scalise wrote. “Under the failed leadership of President Biden, our country is being pushed to the brink.”
Then, similarly to Jordan, Scalise detailed his opposition to the Democrat lawmakers’ agenda, outlining the negative effects that he has seen their policies have on the American people.
Scalise then made an appeal for unity, recounting his experience of getting shot in 2017.
“I firmly believe this Conference is a family,” he said. “When I was shot in 2017, it was Members of this Conference who saved my life on that field. When I made it to the hospital and my family was told my chances of surviving were low, it was the prayers from all of you that carried us through.”
“I know the coming weeks ahead will be some of the most arduous times we will face together, but this Conference is worth fighting for — we cannot lose sight of our shared mission,” Scalise wrote. “Now, more than ever, we must mend the deep wounds that exist within our Conference and focus on our objectives so we can get back to work for the millions of people who are counting on us.”
Again, similarly to Jordan, Scalise detailed his experience and accomplishments to date, appealing to his fellow House Republicans to support his bid for the speakership.
Scalise then returned once again to a discussion of intra-caucus unity.
“Our strength as a Conference comes from our unity, and we have seen when we unite as a Conference, we can deliver wins for the American people,” Scalise wrote. “Now we need to take those unified positions and work to extract conservative winds from the Democrat Senate and White House by leveraging upcoming deadlines.”
“God already gave me another chance at life. I believe we were all put here for a purpose. This next chapter won’t be easy, but I know what it takes to fight and I am prepared for the battles that lie ahead,” Scalise concluded. “I humbly ask you for your support on this mission to be your Speaker of the House.”
The House voted 216 to 210 in favor of ousting McCarthy from the speakership, with eight Republicans joining the Democrat caucus in support of the removal, including: Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), and Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MO).
Rep. Gaetz is responsible for initiating the vote that resulted in McCarthy’s removal.
Although previous Speakers of the House have stepped down after losing their party’s support, this is the first time that representatives have voted to remove someone from the position.
It is not yet clear how long it will take for a new House Speaker to be elected. The House is currently taking a week-long recess during which time members will discuss potential replacements for McCarthy.
As of now, the House is scheduled to vote for a new Speaker on Wednesday, October 11, although it is not certain that a replacement will successfully be selected that day.
In the interim, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) is serving in McCarthy’s place on a temporary and limited basis.
According to the House rules, Rep. McHenry “may exercise such authorities of the office of speaker as may be necessary and appropriate pending the election of a speaker.”
McCarthy officially announced yesterday that he will not seek to reclaim his position as Speaker.
Whoever wins the Republican speakership will have to be CtK, (Crazier than Kevin). Remember McCarthy gave the far far right Republicans everything they wanted, including the motion to vacate, in order to win their support. Everyone knew that agreement was going to come back to bite Speaker McCarthy.
Now whoever wins will have to promise at a minimum; a government shutdown, gutting Social Securit, Medicare, Medicaid, black all immigration, no funding for Ukraine, floor impeachment vote of Presiden Biden, defund DOJ and IRS, just to name a few. Don’t laugh as you know I’m right.
It would be political suic!de if Republicans tried to kick out 8 of their own House members. It would also be foolish to remove those same members from their committee assignments.
McCarthy and House Republicans are getting just what they asked for. America on the other hand didn’t want this. A shutdown is coming and the real retribution will happen at the polls in 2024.
Speaking of Rep. Jordan, you just might want to ask some of his wrestlers if he had their backs.
For Rep. Scalise, I wish you a complete recovery and good health.
They HAD an agreement. I’m so mad at ALL these radical bozos (from both sides) I could spit.