WASHINGTON — Congressman Steve Scalise, who represents Louisiana’s 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives, won the Republican nomination to be House Speaker, according to multiple news reports.
The House Majority Leader got 113 votes for the speakership in a secret ballot cast behind closed doors Wednesday. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) also bid on the office and reportedly got 99 votes.
As the caucus unifies behind Scalise, he will now face an uncertain battle ahead of a vote before the full House of Representatives.
Scalise was the second-highest-ranking House Republican behind ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was pushed out of the leadership role in a historic vote last week.
The Louisiana Republican previously served as House GOP whip before serving as majority leader. He is currently battling multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. He began treatment for the “very treatable” cancer in September.
In 2017, Scalise was left seriously wounded during an assassination attempt at a congressional baseball practice.
Scalise has represented Louisiana in Congress since 2008 and served in the Louisiana legislature before that.
If officially elected, he would be the first from Louisiana to serve as House Speaker.
This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.
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