Old Jefferson Republican is No. 3 GOP member of the House
U. S. Rep. Steve Scalise of Old Jefferson, the third-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives, reiterated Friday (April 13) that he will not run against No. 2 GOP member Kevin McCarthy of California for speaker of the chamber. Scalise spokesman Chris Bond issued this statement on behalf of the majority whip after retiring Speaker Paul Ryan endorsed McCarthy, the majority leader, for the top job:
« As whip Scalise has said publicly for weeks, he will not challenge leader McCarthy should he choose to seek the speaker’s gavel. »
Ryan announced this week he will not seek re-election this fall in his Wisconsin district. He said he will remain speaker through 2018, although some Republicans, worried they will lose their House majority during the 2018 mid-term elections, want to pick a new speaker sooner.
Neither McCarthy nor Scalise has announced he will run for speaker. But both have been jockeying for the position for months.
McCarthy has raised more money for Republicans and some consider him closer to President Donald Trump, but Scalise has more support from the party’s conservative House members. McCarthy backed out of a leadership race three years ago amid similar divisions.
. . .
Drew Broach covers Jefferson Parish politics and Louisiana interests in Congress, plus other odds and ends, for NOLA.com| The Times-Picayune. Email: dbroach@nola.com. Facebook: Drew Broach TP. Twitter: drewbroach1. Google+: Drew Broach.
