Top Republican prospect withdraws from House speaker race as GOP descends into chaos

Just a day after being nominated for House Speaker by the Republican Party, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) has withdrawn his name from consideration, leaving the GOP's path forward to elect House leadership uncertain, CNN reported on Thursday.

"House Republicans met behind closed-doors for more than two hours Thursday afternoon, where the Majority leader urged his detractors to explain their opposition to him in front of the conference. After the meeting ended, Scalise huddled with those opposed to him in his office. And Republicans scheduled a second members-only conference meeting for Thursday evening," reported Jeremy Herb, Melanie Zanona, Manu Raju, and Haley Talbot. "But the opposition to Scalise as the next speaker only grew Thursday, with roughly 20 Republicans publicly opposing him. Scalise needs a majority of the House to be elected speaker, meaning he can only afford to lose four votes."

"The deadlock is leading to intensifying frustration as the House GOP looks no closer to coalescing around a speaker candidate," said the report. "Several Republicans described Thursday’s meeting as a venting session that wasn’t terribly productive. Many said it didn’t feel like anyone could actually get to the 217 votes needed."

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Republicans' next move is unclear. House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) had also been floated as a potential nominee earlier in the process, but a critical mass of members appear resistant to him as well.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who was ousted from the speakership last week in a historic first-of-its-kind vote orchestrated by disaffected far-right Republicans, had previously said he didn't intend to run again. If he changed his mind, it is unclear how he would overcome the votes either, as he would have to win over some of the eight Republicans who voted him out in the first place.

Without a speaker appointed, most business in the House cannot function under the rules. All of this comes as Congress is faced with the prospect of needing to avert a government shutdown in a matter of weeks, and potentially to increase military aid to both Ukraine and Israel.