No Clear GOP Frontrunner for Speaker on Eve of Election

Reps. Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan both have broad bases of support in the Republican conference, making it difficult for one to gain a winning advantage.

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) (R) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) speak to the media outside of a closed-door deposition on Capitol Hill in Washington on Oct. 29, 2019. Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Republicans held a debate with their two candidates for speaker of the House on Oct. 10 and emerged after two hours no closer to identifying the nominee to unite the divided conference.

Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), both highly respected within the Republican conference, each spoke and responded to questions in the two-hour, closed-door session.