The US House of Representatives appears further away from electing a new speaker after Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) announced late Thursday that he would be withdrawing from the race, just one day after being officially nominated for the post by his party.
"I was very clear we have to have everybody put their agendas on the side and focus on what this country needs this country is counting on us," Scalise told reporters.
"But there's some folks that really need to look in the mirror over the next couple of days and decide are we going to get it back on track, or they're going to try to pursue their own agenda."
Scalise has indicated he will continue to act in his role as House majority leader but he has no plans to endorse another candidate for the speakership.
Earlier in the day, following more than two hours in a closed-door meeting, Republican lawmakers admitted that neither Scalise nor his opponent Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) came close to securing the 217 Republican votes needed to be confirmed as House speaker.
At least one Republican representative suggested the conservative party would have to reach out to their opponents across the aisle for help. Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR), who supports Scalise, remarked the only way he could have earned the votes he needs is if Democrats supported him either by voting for him or, more likely, voting “present” to lower the number needed for a majority.
“If [Democrats] want the floor to be open again,” Womack earlier told US media, “we’ve got to elect a speaker.”
However, Democrats would likely demand serious concessions for their help and there have been little to no signals from the minority party that they plan to help Republicans elect a speaker.
Some Republican lawmakers have floated the idea of moving past the conference votes and starting the process of electing a speaker on the House floor. “This business of just having a struggle session doesn’t really work,” Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) said. “We wandered around the barn about 10 times.”
“It’s time we start voting,” Rep. Andrew Ogles (R-TN) added.
During his lengthy confirmation process, McCarthy made several concessions to hardline Republicans who opposed his appointment, including the rule that allowed a single lawmaker to call for a vote to vacate the speaker position. That rule was used to remove McCarthy less than a year later.
Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) and several other lawmakers told US media on Thursday that Scalise did not plan to make deals with those who oppose him like his predecessor did.
“No deals,” Cole said prior to Thursday’s meeting. “He’ll make it very clear today, ‘I’m not cutting deals with anybody.’”
However, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) said earlier Wednesday after a “personal meeting,” that she was “confident” Scalise would allow her to “aggressively pursue” the defunding of Jack Smith’s investigation into former US President Donald Trump's alleged election interference, subpoenaing Hunter Biden - the son of US President Joe Biden, and bringing an impeachment vote of the elder Biden to the House floor. Prior to that meeting, Luna opposed Scalise’s appointment.
Lawmakers who opposed Scalise argued the party should not reward the House majority whip –whose primary job is to keep party members in line– with a promotion after the protracted fight over government funding and McCarthy’s ousting, which showed the party was anything but unified.
Other complaints included that Scalise did not have a plan to fund the government, and that he is was already making unrealistic promises to members, reflecting the way McCarthy governed the party.
Other lawmakers remain bothered about McCarthy’s ousting and have signaled they plan to vote for the former speaker despite his assertion that he is not seeking the role.
Reps. Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Kevin Hern (R-OK) have been floated by some Republicans as potential alternatives to both Scalise and Jordan. Despite reports the two lawmakers are considering their options, they have both publicly denied they are actively seeking the role and have voiced their support for Scalise.