Steve Scalise Throws Hat Into the Ring in House Speaker Race

By Ward Clark | 3:01 PM on October 04, 2023

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In the latest development in what is surely the hottest political story of the week, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) has tossed his hat into the ring for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In a letter sent to Republican colleagues, Scalise referenced the 2017 Congressional baseball game practice where he was shot and critically wounded, crediting the members of his conference for helping him get through.
"I firmly believe this Conference is a family. When I was shot in 2017, it was Members of this Conference who saved my life on that field. When I made it to the hospital and my family was told my chances of surviving were low, it was the prayers from all of you that carried us through," Scalise wrote.
"God already gave me another chance at life. I believe we were all put here for a purpose. This next chapter won’t be easy, but I know what it takes to fight and I am prepared for the battles that lie ahead. I humbly ask you for your support on this mission to be your Speaker of the House."

Scalise, while struggling with health issues, has already received endorsements from several prominent Republicans.

Scalise is McCarthy's longtime No. 2, a partnership that has caused public friction between the two at times. In June, the two leaders publicly blamed each other when conservative hardliners protesting McCarthy's debt limit deal with President Biden derailed legislative proceedings on the House floor.
But he's already managed to snag support of key Republicans, including House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn.
A source familiar with Emmer's thinking confirmed to Fox News Digital that he is supporting Scalise for speaker while making his own calls to gauge interest in a possible run for majority leader himself.
Others have also jumped behind Scalise, like Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who said, "For a time such as this…Steve is the right man to lead our country."
Conservative Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., also said she would be supporting Scalise.

Steve Scalise currently has decent conservative credentials, having a 91 percent lifetime rating from the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC). While his current position as House Majority Leader would seem to have Mr. Scalise well-positioned in the race for Speaker, he does have some liabilities; his health, as mentioned above, cannot help but be a consideration, as could his close but sometimes acrimonious association with ousted Speaker McCarthy.

Scalise is not alone in this contest. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) has also announced a candidacy for Speaker.

Whoever assumes the position of Speaker will have no small task ahead, with the GOP holding a very narrow majority in the House and a fractious caucus to hold in line. With a plurality of the American people open to the idea of breaking the existing two-party system, it's an interesting, if troublesome, time to be among the Congressional leadership.

If anyone needs to be brought up to date on this hot topic, read RedState's previous coverage: