The Republican primary for the position of House Speaker is heating up as potential contenders make their cases to head the deeply divided Republican majority in the House of Representatives. The Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the Chair of the Judiciary Committee Jim Jordan, and the Chair of the Republican Study Committee Kevin Hern are the three primary candidates.
Steve Scalise is presenting his argument to the Main Street Caucus, which is known for being pragmatic and business-oriented. Jim Jordan addressed the audience earlier, despite the doubts expressed by several moderates and liberals over his conservative pedigree. It is anticipated that Jordan would meet with members of the House Freedom Caucus, a group that generally backs him.
It is anticipated that all three contenders will have meetings with members of the Congressional Western Caucus and the freshmen class of Republicans in the House.
On Monday, Republican legislators in the House will gather behind closed doors for a conference, and on Wednesday, a vote will be held throughout the conference to choose the nominee for speaker.
The Republican Party will have a difficult time reaching the needed number of 218 votes for speaker due to the public splits that exist between more moderate and hard-line groups, particularly in regards to government expenditure. The moderates in the House of Representatives are pushing for rule changes, while the conservatives want to keep the rule that is now in place, which states that a single member may initiate a vote to remove the speaker.