Fox News Digital has confirmed that House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., is campaigning to succeed former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted in a close vote earlier on Tuesday.
According to Fox’s sources, Scalise has been quietly lobbying for votes in favor of his being the next speaker of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who filed the move to vacate against McCarthy that led to his ouster, praised Scalise’s speaking abilities to reporters on Tuesday. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) has been appointed speaker pro tempore of the House, taking over for McCarthy until a permanent replacement is chosen.
McCarthy’s decision not to run for reelection as speaker was reported by Fox News Digital.
Republican North Carolina Representative Greg Murphy informed the media that a candidate forum and vote to replace McCarthy were scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.
In response to a suggestion by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer that Scalise would be an effective public speaker, Scalise informed reporters after a meeting of the Republican leadership that he had nothing to say.
Reports show that after learning he had blood cancer early this year, many were concerned about whether or not Scalise was physically capable of performing the duties of speaker.
Scalise told reporters that he felt great.
Six individuals were shot on June 14, 2017, during a warm-up practice for the annual Congressional Baseball Game in Virginia. Among those injured was U.S. House Majority Whip and current U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
James Hodgkinson, the man who shot at Republican Congressmen at practice in Alexandria, was seen watching the politicians play the day before the shooting spree, suggesting that he had cased the field for weeks. Hodgkinson was shot and killed by police.
After discovering photographs of Eugene Simpson Stadium Park on his phone, authorities suspect that James Hodgkinson chose the venue as a target in April.
Hodgkinson, an Illinois native, made his home in a heavily customized white Ford vehicle.
