The House of Representatives will begin their election for a new Speaker, and Representatives Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Steve Scalise (R-LA) are considered the top contenders. Representative Greg Steube (R-FL) spoke with Gainesville radio host Bob Rose on his endorsement of Rep. Jordan as the new House Speaker, calling him "the strongest person to unite the conference."
Some House Republicans hoped former President Donald Trump could become Speaker, including Rep. Steube, who told Rose, "I could not think of somebody better." However, Trump has signaled his intention to focus on running for President, endorsing Rep. Jordan to take Kevin McCarthy's (R-CA) place instead.
Trump had called Jordan "a great patriot" who would "defund the weaponization of our justice system, issue subpoenas, hold Joe Biden accountable for his crimes and corruption, stop the release and resettlement of illegal aliens into your communities, and stand up to the Radical Left Communists who are destroying this country."
Steube, a supporter of Trump's reelection in 2024, agreed, calling Jordan "the most conservative, the strongest person to unite the conference."
Getting the majority vote, however, is where the challenge lies. As Steube noted, "We need every vote. We cannot lose more than three or four with absences."
One absence Steube mentioned by name was former Representative Chris Stewart (R-UT), who resigned in September to stay with his wife after she lost much of her vision after a stroke last year.
"So that brings the number down," Steube continued, "I do not think [Jordan] can lose more than four members on the floor."
Nevertheless, he remained confident House Republicans "can hash this out" and "unite as a conference around Jim and move forward."
At the same time, his colleague Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) remains loyal to former Speaker McCarthy, further complicating Jordan's chances.
Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) told reporters that House Republicans "have a very long day ahead" as she entered for the initial closed-door voting process while confiding in Floridian editor Javier Manjarres that the vote "could take a couple weeks."
Rep. Steve Scalise won the vote to conference vote to be the next Speaker of the House, but barely. He defeated Rep. Jordan by 14 votes, but Rep. Cory Mills did not vote, and 13 members cast a "Present" vote.
Rep. Mills was in Israel today evacuating 32 Americans.
I was told by Rep. Kat Cammack that the Speaker vote could take a couple weeks. Geesh
— Javier Manjarres (@JavManjarres) October 11, 2023
