Steve Scalise Lacks Enough Floor Votes for Speakership – Here Are the GOP Members Publicly Opposing His Candidacy

Steve Scalise (R-LA) faces a challenging situation despite his internal GOP nomination victory for Speaker of the House.

In a closely contested 113-99 closed-door vote, Scalise emerged as the nominee. Nevertheless, he now grapples with the task of securing the necessary floor votes to officially assume the position of Speaker.

BREAKING REPORT: Despite winning a narrow majority, Steve Scalise DOES NOT currently have the floor votes to become the next House Speaker..

Who has your FULL SUPPORT for Speaker of The House?

Scalise defeated Jim Jordan 113 to 99 in a CLOSED DOOR session.

As of now, a minimum… pic.twitter.com/yjiCL3fkXf

— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) October 11, 2023

113 RINOS part from Jim Jordan. What a disgrace — Scalise is McCarthy in the flesh. It’s time for the conservatives in the party to rise up once again and reject RINOS from leadership! #TheGreatAmericaShow https://t.co/hwfhdCP8s1— Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) October 11, 2023

113 RINOS part from Jim Jordan. What a disgrace — Scalise is McCarthy in the flesh. It’s time for the conservatives in the party to rise up once again and reject RINOS from leadership! #TheGreatAmericaShow https://t.co/hwfhdCP8s1

— Lou Dobbs (@LouDobbs) October 11, 2023

Political commentator and influencer Catturd wrote, “Republican voters overwhelmingly wanted Jim Jordan over Steve Scalise for Speaker – so naturally the Republican Party did a secret ballot behind closed doors to pick Steve Scalise,” he wrote.

And now they still don’t have the votes to even take it to the floor and vote. Train wreck.”

And now they still don’t have the votes to even take it to the floor and vote.

Train wreck.

— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) October 12, 2023

This is everything you need to know about Steve Scalise for Speaker

Can’t happen

Has to be Jim Jordan to avoid WW3 pic.twitter.com/9xAnxdERXz

— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) October 11, 2023

According to the Hill, at least six Republicans have indicated they will vote for Jordan on the House floor.

Voting for someone other than Scalise: 7

• Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) — voting for Rep. Jim Jordan
• Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) — voting for Rep. Jim Jordan
• Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) — voting for Rep. Jim Jordan
• Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) — voting for Rep. Jim Jordan
• Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) — voting for Rep. Jim Jordan
• Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) — voting for Rep. Jim Jordan
• Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) — voting for Rep. Kevin McCarthy

Not yet supporting Scalise and undecided: 6

• Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO)
• Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX)
• Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY)
• Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX)
• Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN)
• Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH)

Several House Republicans announced that they intend to vote for Jim Jordan:

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

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

I will be voting for Jim Jordan for Speaker on the floor.

— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) October 11, 2023

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

The House GOP Conference is broken. So we oust Kevin McCarthy and all other leaders are rewarded with promotions? How does that make sense or change anything? We need to chart a different path forward. In the meantime, I plan to vote for Jim Jordan on the floor.

— Rep. Lloyd Smucker (@RepSmucker) October 11, 2023

Meanwhile, Matt Gaetz, who filed the motion that removed McCarthy as speaker, announced his intention to vote for Scalise on the House floor.

“Can’t wait to go vote for Steve Scalise,” he said, adding, “Long live Speaker Scalise.”

Watch:

Matt Gaetz Long Live Speaker Scalice 🤡🤡🤡

WTF @RepMattGaetz pic.twitter.com/J5oNcgNw2p

— Freedom 🇺🇸🦅 (@PU28453638) October 11, 2023