Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise to make their cases to become speaker in closed-door meeting with House GOP

On Tuesday evening, House Republicans are set to hear from at least two candidates for the House Speaker position, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, in a closed-door meeting, coming just one day before GOP lawmakers are expected to vote on their nominee for the position by secret ballot.

Heading into Tuesday’s meeting, Jordan reportedly has an edge in support, though the GOP lawmaker is likely to split the vote with Scalise in the Republican conference, coming short of the 218 votes needed to take the gavel, according to Reuters. 

The outlet reported that Scalise appears to have the support of veteran and establishment Republicans, as well as party leaders, while Jordan has received endorsements from the America First contingent. Wisconsin's Scott Fitzgerald said that "It’s time for Republicans to unify behind the candidate with the skills, experience, and tenacity to meet the challenges of our time. Jim Jordan is that man."

Rep. Michael Cloud, a Jordan backer, said "The American people are looking for not the status quo in Washington. If all they see is everybody just taking one step up, I think it would be very de-motivating."

Other candidates could emerge in the final voting spree, including McCarthy, who continues to have support from a number of GOP lawmakers. On Monday, he said he would serve again as speaker if House Republicans asked for him to do so. He has not put his name in the running.

McCarthy was voted in as speaker in January after 15 rounds of votes, with names like Jordan, Jim Banks, and Andy Biggs being thrown in for consideration. Hakeem Jeffries was the Democrat party’s nomination for the position back in January. He serves as House minority leader for the Democrats.

McCarthy was ousted last week after Rep. Matt Gaetz brought forth the motion to vacate the speaker’s chair. 216 voted in favor of removing McCarthy, against 210. Every Democrat in Congress voted for McCarthy's ouster, and it's unlikely that any Republican speaker will get their support.

Gaetz said that his main concern in bringing the Jeffersonian motion to vacate was funding for Ukraine. While no funds were included in a 45-day stop gap measure passed on in late September to keep the government open, Gaetz alleged that a secret deal had been made between McCarthy and Biden for such funding. McCarthy had said he'd talk about Ukraine funding in connection with closing the US-Mexico border. 

During the Tuesday meeting, lawmakers could vote on whether to adopt a new rule raising the threshold for choosing a nominee to 2017. In November 2022, McCarthy won the House GOP nomination with 188 votes.

The House is currently frozen, unable to take action until a new leader of the chamber is selected. This comes as Israel declared war on Saturday after Hamas terrorist attacks that killed at least 900 people, with thousands more injured and at least 100 hostages taken from Israel.

A leader is also needed to continue work on a government funding bill. On September 30, a 45-day stopgap bill was passed, leaving the House until November 14 to pass a more permanent option.