The upcoming vote for a new Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives has taken on a greater complexity, reportedly resulting in the floor vote being delayed. While the number of ‘no’ votes and ‘undecided’ varies by source, it is clear that the GOP Speaker nominee Rep. Steve Scalise finds himself in a similar situation to where McCarthy was in early 2021 and will likely have to court the same players for the speaker’s gavel.
According to Benny Johnson of Newsmax, at least nine members of the House Republican Conference have said they plan to vote against Scalise, bucking the outcome of the closed-door vote.
Johnson reported these Congress members include, Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-GA), Max Miller (R-OH), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Michael Cloud (R-TX), Troy Nehls (R-TX) and Chip Roy (R-TX).
🚨As of now, at least 9 House Republicans plan to vote against Steve Scalise in a Floor vote for Speaker, despite him wining the Conference’s closed-door nomination:
-Boebert
-Greene
-Miller
-Massie
-Luna
-Gimenez
-Cloud
-Nehls
-Roy— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 11, 2023
Boebert posted to X, “I will be voting for Jim Jordan to be Speaker of the House on the floor when the vote is called. In conference, Jordan received 99 votes and Scalise received 113. We had a chance to unify the party behind closed doors, but the Swamp and K Street lobbyists prevented that. The American people deserve a real change in leadership, not a continuation of the status quo.”
I will be voting for Jim Jordan to be Speaker of the House on the floor when the vote is called.
In conference, Jordan received 99 votes and Scalise received 113.
We had a chance to unify the party behind closed doors, but the Swamp and K Street lobbyists prevented that.
The…
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) October 11, 2023
Rep. Greene expressed a different sentiment, stressing a concern over Scalise’s health linked to a recent cancer diagnosis. She wrote, “I just voted for Jim Jordan for Speaker on a private ballot in conference, and I will be voting for Jim Jordan on the House floor. I like Steve Scalise, and I like him so much that I want to see him defeat cancer more than sacrifice his health in the most difficult position in Congress. I lost my father to cancer and it’s a very serious battle. We need a Speaker who is able to put their full efforts into defeating the communist democrats and save America. We must stop funding foreign wars – Ukraine. We must stop the weaponized government and hold them accountable. We must secure our border. We must protect our kids. And we need a full leadership team dedicated to this fight in these unprecedented times.”
I just voted for Jim Jordan for Speaker on a private ballot in conference, and I will be voting for Jim Jordan on the House floor.
I like Steve Scalise, and I like him so much that I want to see him defeat cancer more than sacrifice his health in the most difficult position in…
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) October 11, 2023
A potential tenth member of the House arose later in the afternoon with Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) writing, “I voted for Jim Jordan in the Republican Conference today. I also voted for us to stay in conference until someone gets the required support of 217. No one received a majority of 221 eligible voting members. I am still supporting Jordan. The country cannot afford the status quo.”
I voted for Jim Jordan in the Republican Conference today. I also voted for us to stay in conference until someone gets the required support of 217. No one received a majority of 221 eligible voting members. I am still supporting Jordan. The country cannot afford the status quo.
— Congressman Bob Good (@RepBobGood) October 11, 2023
Congressman Ken Buck (R-CO) similarly told MSNBC, “My understanding is that Steve Scalise … has seven hard ‘no’s’ and he has seven ‘undecideds.’ I am in the ‘undecided’ category.”
Before today’s proposed floor vote was canceled, Rep. Chip Roy wrote succinctly, “I will not be voting for @SteveScalise on the floor this afternoon. The House GOP should NOT have called a vote at 300pm after finishing the vote at 130pm in Conference. That is unacceptable & purposeful.
I will not be voting for @SteveScalise on the floor this afternoon. The House GOP should NOT have called a vote at 300pm after finishing the vote at 130pm in Conference. That is unacceptable & purposeful.
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) October 11, 2023