US House Speaker Race: Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan Are the Top 2 Candidates

The two lawmakers could join a number of other candidates in a long and unpredictable race for leadership in the Republican-controlled US House of Representatives.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan is considered the leading candidate for Speaker of the US House of Representatives. Photo: Reuters

McCarthy's ouster on Tuesday, pushed by a group of Republicans, marked the first time in history that the US House of Representatives has removed its leader mid-term.

Republicans have set an October 11 vote to choose a successor, and a debate between the candidates will take place the day before.

Scalise, 57, has long been seen as the most likely successor to Mr McCarthy and has met privately with Republicans to drum up support. He is seen as more conservative than Mr McCarthy.

Mr Scalise was critically injured in 2017 when a Republican critic shot him, along with other party lawmakers, as they practiced for a baseball game.

“We all need to come together and pull together to get our country back on track,” he wrote in a letter to Republicans.

Jordan, 59, a former college wrestler who led investigations into the Biden administration in the US House of Representatives, is known as a leader of the Republican Party's right wing. He is often known for rarely wearing a suit and being a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump.

As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, he participated in the recent impeachment inquiry into Mr. Biden and has been involved in some of the legal troubles in the criminal cases against Mr. Trump.

“We can focus on changes that improve our country and our unity to create real solutions,” he wrote to Republicans. “But whatever we do, we must do it together as a team.”

Huy Hoang (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/cuoc-dua-chuc-chu-tich-ha-vien-my-steve-scalise-va-jim-jordan-la-2-ung-vien-hang-dau-post267327.html