The race to succeed the ousted Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, is becoming competitive as of Wednesday, with Steve Scalise, the second-ranking Republican in the House, and Jim Jordan, a leading opponent of Democratic President Joe Biden, announcing their candidacies for the position. Other candidates may join the legislators in what is likely to be a long and chaotic battle for the role in a House where Republicans hold the majority. Republican lawmakers attending a private meeting named the two representatives as the main candidates.
McCarthy's historic ousting on Tuesday, led by a rebellious faction of Republicans, marks the first time the House has removed its leader from the third most important position in the United States after the President and Vice President. Republicans have set a date for a vote on October 11 to choose McCarthy's successor, and they are scheduled to meet the day before to hear from their candidates.
This leadership struggle comes as lawmakers must extend government funding before it expires on November 18 and update agricultural and nutrition support programs, among other tasks. Scalise, who has been undergoing treatment for cancer for some time, is considered McCarthy's clear successor and is viewed as more conservative than McCarthy. Jordan, 59, a former college wrestler, led investigations into the Biden administration and initially gained prominence as a leader of the party's right wing before eventually forming an alliance with McCarthy. He is a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump.
