Scalise is the GOP’s pick to be the House speaker but he faces an uncertain path. What happens next?

In the aftermath of House Republicans selecting Majority Leader Steve Scalise as their nominee for speaker, the race to secure the necessary 217 votes on the House floor has begun, marking the potential transition from the recently ousted Kevin McCarthy. In the confidential vote within the GOP conference, Scalise secured 113 votes, while Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the House Judiciary Committee chairman, received 99 votes. However, some Republicans refrained from casting their votes for either candidate, leaving Scalise well short of the required threshold.

As Scalise strives to garner broader support and unite fellow Republicans behind his bid for the speakership, uncertainty looms over his path to leadership. The sudden removal of McCarthy as speaker left the House without a clear leader, with North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry temporarily filling the role.

Notably, Scalise, who previously served as McCarthy’s deputy, is a well-regarded lawmaker, despite facing significant health challenges, including injuries from a 2017 shooting incident and a recent diagnosis of blood cancer. Nonetheless, he remains committed to assuming the top position.

The process of electing a speaker in the House typically occurs every two years during the organization of a new session, with elections triggered by the speaker’s death, resignation, or removal from office, as is the case now. Each party nominates its candidate, with Republicans backing Scalise and Democrats supporting their current leader, New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.

During the speakership vote, members are seated, and the roll call begins. Each member individually declares their choice, and the candidate must secure a majority of votes from the present and voting House members. If necessary, the House can hold multiple rounds of balloting until a candidate achieves this majority.

Scalise faces several challenges in the upcoming floor vote, as nearly half of the Republican conference initially supported Jordan. While some may shift their support to Scalise, he will need substantial backing from House Republicans to secure the speakership. Additionally, members are not bound by tradition to vote only for House members as speaker candidates, potentially introducing further complications.

Historically, the majority required to become speaker has been 218 votes, but this number can be adjusted if members choose to vote “present.” Present votes reduce the overall threshold needed for a majority. Currently, with two vacancies in the 435-seat House, a speaker would need 217 votes if every member votes for a nominee.

Upon securing a majority, the clerk will officially announce the election of a speaker. A bipartisan committee, typically from the chosen candidate’s home state, will escort the speaker-elect to the dais to administer the oath of office, followed by a customary inaugural speech. Outgoing speakers usually join their successors at the speaker’s chair, symbolizing the peaceful transition of power.

Upon being sworn in, the new speaker assumes immediate authority, and their name plaque is swiftly placed above the speaker’s office door. Scalise, if elected, has outlined his first actions, including passing a bipartisan resolution in support of Israel during its conflict with Hamas and addressing the pressing matter of government funding before the mid-November deadline.

This report includes contributions from Farnoush Amiri, a writer for Big Big News.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about House speakership race

More about House speakership race

• House Speaker Election Process
• Steve Scalise’s Nomination as Speaker
• Challenges Facing Steve Scalise
• Impact of Vacancies on Speaker Vote
• House Speaker Transition