Jim Jordan wins GOP conference vote for speaker over Austin Scott, but floor vote not scheduled

The House GOP conference held its second election for House speaker on Friday between Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Austin Scott, R-Ga.

Jordan came out on top 124-81. He needs a simple majority, which is currently 217, on the House floor to become speaker.

Some lawmakers are not present at the U.S. Capitol given that votes are frozen until a speaker is elected. The conference also held a test vote to find out how much support Jordan will have from Republican members on the House floor. The final tally was 152-55. It appears that a floor vote will not be scheduled for Friday evening. The timing is unclear.

Scott declared his intention to run for speaker on Friday, according to a source close to the process and later confirmed by the lawmaker on X, formerly Twitter.

The conference later held a speaker candidate forum in the afternoon. 

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise dropped out of the speaker race on Thursday night after winning the nomination because he lacked the 217 votes needed to win on the House floor. Jordan received 99 votes in the first speaker election, compared to 113 for Scalise. 

McCarthy was ousted in a House vote after Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., introduced a motion to vacate the chair 10 days ago on Oct. 3.