Two congressmen are now running to become the speaker of the House. I told you about Jim Jordan earlier this morning, who told reporters he was definitely in the mix.
Now we have Steve Scalise, who made the announcement a little while ago:
🚨🚨BREAKING NEWS: HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER STEVE SCALISE has entered the race for SPEAKER
This sets up a showdown with House Judiciary Chair JIM JORDAN
Here's Scalise's letter: https://t.co/3NoyGq0eBd
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 4, 2023
I’m sure there be more than two before the end of the week, but this is where we are now.
So what are other congressmen saying about choosing a next speaker? The Motion to Vacate has to be reformed:
🚨I’m not supporting ANYONE for Speaker until there is a commitment to reform the Motion to Vacate.
The coup against Speaker McCarthy was DESPICABLE & must never happen again.
No one can govern effectively while being threatened by fringe hostage takers.https://t.co/HtWTF0jquo
— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) October 4, 2023
LAWLER, on w @KatyTurNBC, said he isn’t supporting scalise or Jordan yet
Said he wants MTV reform and “accountability” for the 8 lawmakers who voted against McCarthy.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 4, 2023
Lawler not only wants MTV reform and accountability for the eight, he also wants Gaetz kicked out of Republican conference:
Rep. Lawler tells us leaving the speakers office suite that he thinks Matt Gaetz should be kicked out of the GOP conference
“I think Matt Gaetz is a disgraceful human being. And I think he has certainly alienated lots of people left and right…”
— Nicholas Wu (@nicholaswu12) October 4, 2023
Matt Gaetz has already responded to MTV reform:
So the way moderates want to punish me is by making it harder to remove Speaker Jordan or Speaker Scalise?
OH NO!
ANYTHING BUT THAT!!!! https://t.co/T1mxltVmUR
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) October 4, 2023
In other words, this race to get a new speaker could go on for a while…