--- title: Who Is Running for House Speaker? Meet the Candidates description: What to know about Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise, and the race for House Speaker. canonical: https://time.com/6322160/house-speaker-candidates-jordan-scalise/ author: Nik Popli article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2023-10-10T15:05:27.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:50:50.587Z article:section: Politics og:title: These Are the Candidates For House Speaker og:description: What to know about Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise, and the race for House Speaker. og:url: https://time.com/6322160/house-speaker-candidates-jordan-scalise/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc0d539debfaf1663/698a410ad075334bf9e6e742/jordan-scalise-house-speaker.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2400 og:image:height: 1350 og:image:alt: jordan-scalise-house-speaker og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: These Are the Candidates For House Speaker twitter:description: What to know about Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise, and the race for House Speaker. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc0d539debfaf1663/698a410ad075334bf9e6e742/jordan-scalise-house-speaker.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # These Are the Candidates for House Speaker > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ## Video: Amid House Chaos, Biden Faces Shrunken Legislative Agenda: Avoid Shutdowns, Fund Ukraine [Watch (HLS stream): Amid House Chaos, Biden Faces Shrunken Legislative Agenda: Avoid Shutdowns, Fund Ukraine](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/kM5mcYDb.m3u8) (3:09)  _Published 2023-10-05. Facing a likely roadblock from House Republicans on aid for Ukraine, President Joe Biden said Wednesday he’s planning to give a major speech on the issue and suggested there may be “another means” to provide support for Kyiv if Congress continues to balk._  by [Nik Popli](https://time.com/author/nik-popli/)  ## Nik Popli Staff Writer Oct 10, 2023 3:05 PM UTC  Representatives Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise are in the running to succeed Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. Representatives Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise are in the running to succeed Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. Jordan: Tom Williams—CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images; Scalise: Francis Chung—Politico/AP  by [Nik Popli](https://time.com/author/nik-popli/)  ## Nik Popli Staff Writer Oct 10, 2023 3:05 PM UTC House Republicans are yet to nominate a candidate to succeed Rep. Kevin McCarthy as Speaker after he became [the first in history](https://time.com/6320471/kevin-mccarthy-speaker-ousted-history/) to be [ousted from his position](https://time.com/6320197/in-dramatic-vote-mccarthy-becomes-first-house-speaker-to-be-ousted-in-u-s-history/). Lawmakers are divided over who can best unite the conference, fundraise for Republican candidates, and [keep the government funded](https://time.com/6320700/joe-biden-house-speaker-shutdowns-ukraine/) ahead of next month’s deadline. But two candidates have emerged as the likely finalists for the open gavel: Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Steve Scalise of Louisiana, both of whom have put their names forward and are pitching their vision to colleagues. Scalise, the House Majority Leader, has racked up roughly two dozen GOP endorsements while Jordan, who leads the House Judiciary Committee, is backed by former President Donald Trump and has more than 40 endorsements, though neither currently has enough votes to win the speakership. McCarthy also didn’t rule out the idea of joining the race to win back his job, telling reporters on Monday that he would seek re-election if the conference nominated him—a reversal from his vow last week that he wouldn’t enter the race. ### More From TIME Republican lawmakers are expected to attend a candidate forum on Tuesday evening and then pick their nominee on Wednesday morning, potentially teeing up a House vote before the end of the week. Until a permanent Speaker is selected, legislative work in the House remains in limbo, meaning Congress can’t make progress on the appropriations bills that must be passed by mid-November to fund the government or send more military aid [to Israel following the attacks by militants this weekend](https://time.com/6321849/israel-attack/). House Republicans left a nearly three-hour closed door meeting on Monday night still unclear on whether they would be able to rally behind any one candidate in time for the conference vote on Wednesday. “We’re kind of like a scattergram—we’re all over the map in terms of the way forward,” said Rep. Steve Womack, an Arkansas Republican who is backing Scalise. “There’s a lot of free agents in there—a lot of people who are just not going to forfeit their individual voting card, and I understand that.” Here’s what to know about the candidates for House Speaker. ## **Jim Jordan** Jordan, 59, has gained support for his speakership bid from several key figures on the far-right. Known as a conservative agitator and staunch Trump ally, Jordan currently serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, where he is leading one of several high-profile investigations into President Joe Biden over his family’s business dealings. He is also a co-founder of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, which often clashes with GOP leadership and has been a driving force behind pushing the Republican Party further to the right. In [a letter to his Republican colleagues](https://jordan.house.gov/media/press-releases/chairman-jordan-announces-run-house-speaker) asking for their support, Jordan touted his work helping the House pass a strict border-security bill, holding the Biden Administration accountable, and pushing for fiscal discipline. He is against sending aid to Ukraine without clear objectives and spending accountability. "The most pressing issue on Americans' minds is not Ukraine, it's the border situation and crime on the streets," he told reporters on Oct. 4\. "So let's address those." Democrats have criticized Jordan’s approach in Congress, viewing him as a hyper-partisan Trump defender who has used his position to shield the former president. Trump on Friday said Jordan had his “complete” and “total” endorsement. “He will be a GREAT Speaker of the House,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “He is STRONG on Crime, Borders, our Military/Vets, & 2nd Amendment.” Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, [who led the campaign to oust McCarthy](https://time.com/6320479/matt-gaetz-house-speaker-mccarthy/), wrote on the social media platform X, “My mentor Jim Jordan would be great!” A former wrestling champion, Jordan has been accused of ignoring sexual abuse complaints against a team doctor during his time as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University from 1987 to 1995\. Jordan has denied any knowledge of the allegations and any wrongdoing on his part. ## **Steve Scalise** Scalise, 58, currently serves as the House Majority Leader and is gaining traction among establishment House Republicans to succeed McCarthy. He previously led the Republican Study Committee and is considered more conservative than McCarthy, though not as far to the right as Jordan, potentially making him more of a unifying force within the GOP. In a letter to his Republican colleagues seeking their support, Scalise outlined his achievements in advancing bills related to American energy production, border security, and parental involvement in education. He joined a minority of House Republicans in voting for sending $300 million in aid to Ukraine and temporarily extending federal funding, even when such measures faced conservative opposition. Scalise's political journey began in the Louisiana House of Representatives, where he served from 1996 to 2007\. He later won a special election to replace Bobby Jindal in Congress, and has since secured re-elections in his district, eventually rising through the ranks to become GOP whip from 2014 to 2022 and now the House Majority Leader. Throughout his tenure, Scalise has been praised by colleagues for his ability to build relationships with members of different ideological viewpoints. He also has a significant fundraising advantage, having raised over $53 million in the last election cycle, compared to Jordan's $14 million. But Scalise’s bid may face some health-related obstacles. He was diagnosed with blood cancer over the summer and is currently undergoing intensive treatment. In 2017, he [survived an assassination attempt](https://time.com/5312145/steve-scalise-baseball-shooting-anniversary/) during a congressional baseball practice, sustaining serious injuries that continue to affect him today, including a limp. In 2014, it was revealed that he had spoken at a gathering of white nationalists in 2002\. He later apologized, asserting that he would not have attended if he had been better informed about the group's nature. Another story emerged that Scalise had described himself to a political reporter as "like David Duke without the baggage," referring to the former Klansman and white supremacist who was also a Louisiana politician. Notable endorsements so far include Reps. [Tom Emmer of Minnesota](https://time.com/6320599/trump-house-republicans-tom-emmer/) (the Majority Whip), Lisa McClain of Michigan, Ken Calvert of California, and Tony Gonzales of Texas. ## **Kevin McCarthy** Several moderate Republicans have said that McCarthy remains the only viable Republican who can lead the conference during this time, raising the possibility that the California Republican could get some nominating votes from a key bloc of the party. McCarthy said he might be open to reclaiming the post from which he was ousted if enough of the Republicans who voted for his removal are open to his reinstatement. Such a scenario appears unlikely, especially after a group of eight Republicans sided with Democrats to vacate the speakership because he relied on Democratic votes to avert a government shutdown—a decision that McCarthy has repeatedly defended. But speaking to reporters on Monday behind a podium in the Rayburn Room of the Capitol, where the Speaker often holds official ceremonies, McCarthy laid out a plan to defend Israel and rescue American captives. And once again, he lamented how just 4% of his party's members were able to remove a speaker supported by 96%. "Let’s be honest about our conference,” McCarthy told reporters. “Is our conference just going to elect somebody to throw them out in another 35 days?” Asked if he wanted to resume serving as Speaker, McCarthy said that the decision was not up to him, and that he would support whatever his fellow Republicans wanted. “I’ll allow the conference to make any decision,” he said. Some prominent New York Republicans, who are among the most vulnerable in the House and represent a key voting bloc, have already endorsed McCarthy if he were to run again. After his news conference, Republican Rep. Nick LaLota of New York [said on X](https://twitter.com/nicklalota/status/1711419683633517018?s=46&t=gMso3BLndX6bXoFuoZuXhw) that the former Speaker “is acting with class and confidence and in the best interests of America.” Rep. Mike Lawler, another New York Republican, said he believes McCarthy should be reinstated. “A lot of people believe Kevin McCarthy is the right person to lead us,” he told reporters. ## **Donald Trump**? Could the former President be the next House Speaker? It’s a question that gained traction last week after Trump inserted himself into the race, telling Fox News that he would consider accepting the House speakership role temporarily if Republicans could not agree on a candidate. "I have been asked to speak as a unifier because I have so many friends in Congress," Trump said. "If they don’t get the vote, they have asked me if I would consider taking the speakership until they get somebody longer-term, because I am running for President." He went on to endorse Jordan for the post, but Trump’s interest in the position could be reignited if House Republicans fail to rally around a candidate by the end of the week. Some rightwing Republicans, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Troy Nehls of Texas, had previously suggested that Trump be the next Speaker. Trump is currently the frontrunner in the Republican presidential primary and has been charged in four separate criminal cases, which are expected to play out [over the coming months](https://time.com/6301429/donald-trump-cases-election-timeline/). While the House Speaker is not required to be a sitting member of Congress, GOP House rules [currently prohibit](https://www.gop.gov/conference-rules-of-the-118th-congress/) anyone under a criminal indictment on felony charges carrying more than a two-year sentence from serving in Republican leadership, though Republicans could change the rules. “It shouldn’t happen, and we have a lot of talent inside the House,” Rep. Ken Buck, a Colorado Republican, said on ABC’s 'This Week' on Oct. 8 of the possibility of Trump becoming Speaker. “We’ll settle this inside the House Republican conference, and we will elect someone who’ll have the unity and the backing of the full conference.” ## **Other dynamics to watch** At the heart of the battle are the establishment Republicans who find themselves caught between wanting to find a consensus candidate and the power the hardline faction of the party wields. One of the central demands from moderate Republicans is a commitment to changing the rules to prevent the kind of floor vote that led to McCarthy's ouster. They want assurances that the government will not shut down in mid-November, and they seek to ensure that no single member will have the power to remove a sitting Speaker unilaterally. “It's never an easy job,” Lawler tells TIME. “You're managing the House, you have 434 other opinions and obviously, you have to manage your own conference. It's not easy. I don't think it's necessarily any more difficult now than it was to begin with. But the question is, can someone build consensus and move us forward?” The next Speaker will inherit a House that is not only divided but subdivided, with the GOP’s narrow nine-seat majority further diminished by an angry split between establishment Republicans and the far-right populist faction egged on by Trump. Add to that a broken power structure that allows even a handful of dissenting members to wield significant influence, and the new dynamic raises concerns whether anyone can lead the House on critical issues. “The Republican Party is in real danger,” says Larry Sabato, a political analyst and director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. “They’re not going to get very much done in the coming months.” ## Transcript Recent agreement over the weekend fines for government. Only another 40 days. We cannot and should not can be faced with 11th. Our decision of brinkmanship threatens to shut down the government. And we know what we have to do. We and we got it, we have to get it done in a timely fashion or than any we need to change the poisonous atmosphere and washed it and we're strong. Disagreements. But we need to stop seeing each other as enemies. Need to talk to one another listen to want to work with on other and we can do that. That's your disarray on Capitol Hill after your conversation with allies yesterday. Were you that you won't be able to deliver the a that the US has promised to Ukraine. And but I know there are majority of members of the House and Senate in both parties. Who have said that they support on in Ukraine. With your, I'm going to be an ounce of here shortly. Major speech on going to make on this issue and why it's critically important for United States and our allies that we keep our commitment. Without the additional. Be able to support. We can support Ukraine. The next Tron should we need, and there is another means, by which we may be able to find funding for that, but I'm not going to do that. Now as promised president zelensky during his visit in the white house that you would provide as the long-range missiles for Ukraine. I have spoken with solinsky and everything. He's asked for we've worked out. 22 way to listen to it. If I'm going to make the argument that it's overwhelmingly and interesting United States of America, that Ukraine succeed. And it's over 1 million in our interest. I've spent two and a half years putting together coalition's, no one thought could be put together and they've strengthened us across the board, not just his relation to Crane weather, is Japan and South Korea are whether it's what's happening in Europe itself. And so, I think that it's clear to the vast majority of the foreign policy community in both left and right, that this has been a valuable exercise for the United States of America, to increase the support we have around the world. And what I don't want to do is we we put together or 50 Nations, 50 Nations, support in Ukraine and we have the rear of the organizer that I met with. The don't hold me, the exact number 16 or 17 yesterday, and a long conversation. And I made the case that I knew that the majority of the American people still support Ukraine, and the majority of the members of the Congress vote. Democrat Republican, support it. So I don't think we should let them gamesmanship getting away blocking. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6322160/house-speaker-candidates-jordan-scalise/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6322160/house-speaker-candidates-jordan-scalise/"},"headline":"These Are the Candidates for House Speaker","datePublished":"2023-10-10T15:05:27.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:50:50.587Z","description":"What to know about Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise, and the race for House Speaker.","url":"https://time.com/6322160/house-speaker-candidates-jordan-scalise/","keywords":["Congress","Explainer","uspoliticspolicy"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc0d539debfaf1663/698a410ad075334bf9e6e742/jordan-scalise-house-speaker.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Nik Popli","jobTitle":"Staff Writer","url":"https://time.com/author/nik-popli/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc0d539debfaf1663/698a410ad075334bf9e6e742/jordan-scalise-house-speaker.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"jordan-scalise-house-speaker","caption":"diptych of Representatives Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise","creditText":"Jordan: Tom Williams—CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images; Scalise: Francis Chung—Politico/AP","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/congress/","name":"Congress"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6322160/house-speaker-candidates-jordan-scalise/","name":"These Are the Candidates for House Speaker"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Amid House Chaos, Biden Faces Shrunken Legislative Agenda: Avoid Shutdowns, Fund Ukraine","description":"Facing a likely roadblock from House Republicans on aid for Ukraine, President Joe Biden said Wednesday he’s planning to give a major speech on the issue and suggested there may be “another means” to provide support for Kyiv if Congress continues to balk.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/kM5mcYDb/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2023-10-05T15:23:44.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/kM5mcYDb.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/6322160/house-speaker-candidates-jordan-scalise/","duration":"PT3M9S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/6322160/house-speaker-candidates-jordan-scalise/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```