The two declared candidates for the position are House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (Louisiana) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (Ohio), but neither is a clear favorite.
The search for McCarthy’s replacement – who left the door open to a second candidacy – is an urgent task for a Congress, almost paralyzed and with pending issues such as the extension of funding for the federal government that will continue to act beyond November 17. , when the deadline expires.
Currently, the division in the Lower House is evident where only eight of the 221 Republican congressmen in that chamber, all belonging to the hard lines of the party, were able to create the conditions to oust McCarthy.
Former president Donald Trump on Truth Social expressed his public support for Jordan, who he said “would be a GREAT president of the House (of Representatives).”
However, there is a group of congressmen who like Scalise because they believe that he has a better working relationship with the Republican leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), who is more favorable to the completion of bills that must be approved.
The House of Representatives, where Republicans have a small majority, approved the historic motion that ousted McCarthy on October 3 and this Wednesday is expected to elect his replacement.
It is hoped that 15 rounds of voting will not be necessary, as happened in January when the Republican was elected in California.
We must change the toxic atmosphere in Washington, President Joe Biden said as he called for an end to the unrest as soon as possible.
