(USNewsMag.com) – Republican senators are now divided on who will be the next Speaker of the House as candidates place their bids and the old-guard GOP wrestles with those aligned with former President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda.
According to some reports, some of the more traditional Republican members of the Senate are hoping that Majority Leader Steve Scalise is elected as the new House Speaker. On the other side of the Republican split are those Senate members who favor Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio and view Scalise as someone who would be similar to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern was also considering a run for the position but dropped out.
McCarthy was ousted last week in a historic vote after GOP House members led by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz allied with House Democrats to remove the Speaker. As the government deals with potential shutdowns and an escalating conflict in Israel, on top of the Ukraine war and the migrant crisis, Congress is in disarray.
Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky stood up for McCarthy after the ousting, claiming he “worked closely” with the former Speaker “throughout his tenure” and was “struck by his persistence.” McConnell called McCarthy “a partner” he “could trust to be honest and candid.”
Those who support Scalise as a replacement believe his style of leadership would blend with McConnell better, while the Freedom Caucus is throwing their lot behind Jordan. One of the reasons for this is that Scalise voted in favor of sending $300 million in additional aid to Ukraine for their war effort with Russia, which he did last year, too, for a $40 billion package. In contrast, Jordan opposed funding the conflict.
Trump himself also backed Jordan last Friday. The former president stated on his Truth Social page that Jordan would “be a great speaker,” giving him his “complete and total endorsement” for the job. Trump said Jordan was “a star long before” entering Congress, proceeding to list off the congressman’s accomplishments.
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