Republicans nominate Steve Scalise for US House speaker

WASHINGTON

US House Republicans nominated Rep. Steve Scalise for House Speaker on Wednesday, following the ouster of Kevin McCarthy.

The House Majority Leader emerged victorious in a secret ballot vote against Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, securing 113 votes to 99 for Jordan.

To officially assume the role of Speaker, Scalise needs to secure 217 votes from fellow lawmakers. The Republican Party holds 221 seats in the House.

"Obviously, we still have work to do. We're gonna have to go upstairs on the House floor and resolve this, and then get the House opened again," Scalise said after the vote.

Multiple reports suggest that the House will not conduct a vote Wednesday for the Speaker.

Speaker pro tempore Patrick McHenry, who has been serving as interim Speaker since McCarthy's removal, expressed his intention to afford Scalise the opportunity to garner support before scheduling a formal vote.

McCarthy was abruptly ousted from his post Oct. 3 following a rebellion from far-right Republicans. The no-confidence vote saw eight House Republicans join all present Democrats to remove him.

It was the first in US history that saw a House Speaker toppled as a result of internal procedures.