Steve Scalise of Republican Party drops out of US House speaker race

Republican Steve Scalise said late on Thursday (Oct 12) that he was dropping out of the race to be speaker of the US House of Representatives.

Scalise informed his GOP colleagues during a private evening meeting of his decision, refraining from endorsing anyone, including his main rival, Rep. Jim Jordan, the far-right Judiciary Committee chairman favoured by former US presidentDonald Trump, who had already withdrawn from seeking the position.

The future steps remain uncertain, as the House is essentially closed while the Republican majority seeks to elect a new speaker after ousting Kevin McCarthy from the role in an unprecedented vote orchestrated by party hardliners.

When asked about supporting Jordan, Scalise told journalists the need for selfless individuals, stating, "It's got to be people that aren't doing it for themselves and their own personal interest."

Scalise had been striving to gain the support of over 100 representatives, mainly from those backing Jordan. However, many hardliners aligned with Trump were determined to prolong the fight to replace McCarthy after his historic removal from the position.

The hold-outs argued that Scalise as majority leader was not a better choice, should focus on his health amid his battle with cancer, and did not align with their vision of leadership.

The House adjourned late in the night, with plans to reconvene early on Friday (Oct 13).

Meanwhile, Kevin McCarthy, the first speaker to be ousted in avote, said that Scalise would continue as majority leader.

While McCarthy had briefly considered a comeback bid, it seemed unlikely, Associated Press reported.

"I just think the conference as a whole has to address their issues, find a solution, and select a new leader," he concluded.

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