Steve Scalise launches bid to lead reeling House Republicans
· Axios
Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) will announce his bid to lead House Republicans on Wednesday, a person familiar with his plans told Axios, as his party begins to regroup from stunning midterm losses that cost them their congressional majorities.
Why it matters: Scalise's announcement sets up a potentially bruising battle for the minority leader post, with Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) also being floated as a potential contender.
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- It's Scalise's second attempt at the top House Republican job.
- Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told staff that he will not run for minority leader on a Wednesday morning call, a person familiar with his plans said.
Driving the news: Scalise pitched himself as a leader positioned to bring Republicans back into the majority
- "He is a proven and tested leader who is ready on day one. He's spent his career unifying Republicans and he is prepared for the big legislative and oversight battles ahead. The conference knows him, how he fights, and that he's a trusted leader," the person familiar with his plans said in statement.
Catch up quick: Scalise defeated Jordan in the Republican conference's secret-ballot vote to nominate a speaker in October 2023, but withdrew a day later after failing to secure enough support on the House floor.
- Johnson ultimately emerged as speaker after weeks of Republican infighting.
State of play: A Scalise-Jordan race would pit two of the House GOP's most prominent figures against each other.
- Scalise enters the contest with more than a decade of experience in leadership, while Jordan could draw support from the party's conservative wing.
- But the scale of the loss on Tuesday night has prompted calls for an entirely new leadership slate — a potential stumbling block for Scalise.
- Three House Republicans previously told Axios that a major midterm defeat could fuel calls for an entirely new leadership team
The intrigue: Majority Whip Tom Emmer, meanwhile is making calls to lock down support from him to stay on as whip in the minority, a person familiar with his plans told Axios.
- Emmer (R-Minn.) told Axios in September that he intends to remain in his current role rather than seek a higher leadership position.
- That could leave the losing candidate in a Scalise-Jordan matchup without an obvious fallback spot in the top leadership ranks.
What's next: House Republicans are scheduled to elect their next leadership team on Nov. 10, with candidates facing a Friday deadline to declare their intentions.
- The winner needs a majority of House Republicans in a secret-ballot vote.
- Trump could play a pivotal role in determining the next top House Republican, and GOP lawmakers are watching closely to see whether he throws his support behind a candidate.