Steve Scalise Has Clearest Path to Speakership, McCarthy Allies Say

With the House speakership hanging in limbo after Kevin McCarthy’s ouster Monday evening, allies of the former speaker say House Majority Leader Steve Scalise currently has the clearest path to the speakership as he continues to gauge support for his newly announced bid.

But the race is early, and there is widespread concern among different House GOP factions about his health, House GOP sources tell National Review, with a host of House Republican sources cautioning that Scalise’s blood cancer diagnosis is causing many McCarthy allies to keep their powder dry, even if his health issues aren’t necessarily disqualifying.

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Audrey Fahlberg

Audrey Fahlberg was a politics reporter for National Review.

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With the House speakership hanging in limbo after Kevin McCarthy’s ouster Monday evening, allies of the former speaker say House Majority Leader Steve Scalise currently has the clearest path to the speakership as he continues to gauge support for his newly announced bid.

But the race is early, and there is widespread concern among different House GOP factions about his health, House GOP sources tell National Review, with a host of House Republican sources cautioning that Scalise’s blood cancer diagnosis is causing many McCarthy allies to keep their powder dry, even if his health issues aren’t necessarily disqualifying.