The Facts
- Republicans in the House of Representatives have selected Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to be their nominee in the party's latest bid to elect a House speaker. His nomination follows intensive discussions by the GOP and now begins what could be a challenging selection process for the Ohio lawmaker.
- This comes as House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) on Thursday announced the end of his bid to become the chamber's speaker, citing individuals with “personal interest[s]” who refused to back him.
- Previously, Scalise on Wednesday defeated Jordan (R-Ohio) 113-99 as part of an internal party contest for the nomination. Scalise would have needed a majority of 217 on the House floor to be elected speaker, and Jordan must reach the same figure.
Sources Split
LEFT
CENTER
RIGHT
+1
+1
ESTAB
CRIT
CENTER
PRO
ESTAB
The Spin
Republican narrative
Scalise made the right move backing out, it's just too bad he didn’t do it sooner because then we could have figured out where the rest of the caucus stands on Jordan or the alternatives. Jordan could be a perfect fit for this role, and whether it’s him or ultimately someone else, Republicans very soon intend to converge on a solution.
Democratic narrative
All Republicans have done since McCarthy's ousting is fight amongst themselves. Such embarrassing behavior is not fit for any office, let alone within the House. Meanwhile, Democrats remain a unified force within the US, which should pay off in the long run — particularly the next time voters go to the polls to pick a new House majority.
Metaculus Prediction
© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 7.17.1