Speaker Vote Delayed as Scalise Can't Meet 217 Vote Threshold

Last Updated on October 13, 2023

The vote for a new Speaker of the House has been delayed after GOP establishment pick Steve Scalise was unable to secure the 217 votes he needs to take the place of Kevin McCarthy, his close political ally who last week became the first speaker in American history to be ousted by way of the motion to vacate.

Though the House of Representatives was originally set to reconvene at 3:00 PM today to elect a new speaker, the vote has been called off after it was realized Steve Scalise, whom the GOP establishment has thrown its weight behind, apparently doesn’t have enough support to win the gavel.

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“It appears Steve Scalise does not have the votes to become speaker,” National File’s Charles Downs reported from the U.S. Capitol. “There will be no vote today. There might be a vote tomorrow,” he added.

“Scalise and McCarthy are desperate to avoid an embarrassing floor fight because a floor fight would point out how weak the Republican establishment already is,” Downs went on to say.

Watch Downs’ reporting below:

Breaking: McCarthy 2.0, also known as Steve Scalise, doesn’t have the votes. There will be no vote tonight. McCarthy, Scalise and the rest of the GOP establishment want to avoid a floor fight. The uniparty is extremely weak. pic.twitter.com/w0YOdyQLqa

— Charles R Downs (@TheCharlesDowns) October 11, 2023

As Scalise jockeys for the speakership, he’s also been dodging questions on key issues among America First voters – issues that lie at the root of Kevin McCarthy’s removal after he failed to take them seriously.

When questioned on Tuesday by National File, Scalise refused to provide an answer on defunding the Ukraine War money train and the DOJ’s anti-Trump witch hunts. He also had no comment on whether or not he plans to release the J6 tapes if elected speaker – again, something that Kevin McCarthy failed to take seriously.

One issue that Scalise has spoken on though is his support for Israel, echoing others within the GOP establishment in saying that electing a new speaker is imperative for the defense and support of Israel and adding that if he’s elected, his “first order of business” as Speaker of the House will be passing a resolution backing the Jewish state that in recent days has been thrust into war with Hamas.