Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Steve Scalise (R-La.) are the first Republicans to declare their candidacies for speaker of the House after the shocking ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Tuesday.
Both men asked their Republican colleagues for support on Wednesday in letters lambasting federal spending and the supposed persecution of former President Donald Trump.
Scalise and Jordan are well-respected by their colleagues, though Jordan is best known as a combative defender of Trump, which could turn off moderates. In recent weeks, lawmakers have mentioned both as possible replacements for McCarthy.
