Allies of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise made a behind-the-scenes play to feel out the Freedom Caucus about backing the Louisiana Republican for speaker as voting dragged out.
On Thursday a GOP lawmaker made overtures to renegade members of the House Freedom caucus about a possible deal that would elevate Scalise to the top job and make Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, their preferred candidate, House Majority Leader — the position Scalise currently holds, according to Politico.
Rep. Steve Scalise walks to the House chamber as he speaks to reporters on Friday. APAllies of Scalise reportedly also made calls around the caucus gauging the level of support he could muster should McCarthy implode.
Scalise — who was shot by a far-left extremist in 2017 — assiduously stayed above the fray, making no known inquiries and was never nominated for the job during any of the 15 rounds of voting.
McCarthy’s coalition did ultimately hold together and he claimed the Speaker’s gavel early Saturday morning.
