Jim Jordan and Austin Scott are currently the only declared speaker candidates
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FOX News senior congressional correspondent reports the House of Representatives is in a state of ‘unprecedented chaos.’
House Republicans could select their new candidate for speaker in a vote Friday afternoon after huddling for several hours behind closed doors.
A senior GOP aide told Fox News Digital that Republicans will vote on their pick for the speaker's gavel after a 1 p.m. candidate forum.
GOP lawmakers started the day discussing whether the threshold to pick a nominee for speaker should be raised to 217 — a House-wide majority. Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., won a simple majority of the conference on Wednesday, but had dropped out of the race by Thursday over growing public opposition.
"I think we'll have a vote in conference," Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., told reporters on Friday. He added that he believes it is highly unlikely a House-wide vote will happen today.
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Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, is running for speaker (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Republican Study Committee Chair Kevin Hern, R-Okla., similarly predicted a House GOP vote today.
"We'll go straight to the vote from [the candidate forum]," Hern told reporters. He said the vote would be conducted via secret ballot, but that candidates are able to call for a roll call vote if they wanted one.
The current frontrunner is Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, though it's unclear if moderates and Republicans in swing districts could feel comfortable getting behind a lawmaker who made his name as a GOP bomb-thrower.
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Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., is also running for speaker (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
But in a surprise move after Republicans' first conference meeting today, Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., launched his own bid for the gavel.
"I have filed to be Speaker of the House. We are in Washington to legislate, and I want to lead a House that functions in the best interest of the American people," Scott wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
And while it's not clear if a House-wide vote will happen soon — a GOP nominee for speaker will need 217 votes to win the gavel without Democratic support — House Democrats are racing to unite for a possible move this afternoon, according to an email obtained by Fox News Digital.
Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., dropped out of the race on Thursday night (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
"Thank you for your patience with the floor schedule (or lack thereof) this week. As you have heard from our office, we expect that the Republicans may go to the floor for a vote on Speaker of the House as early as this afternoon," Minority Whip Katherine Clark's office sent to Democrats on Friday.
"We need all Members here and voting. No Member should leave DC at this time."
Elizabeth Elkind is a reporter for Fox News Digital focused on Congress as well as the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and politics. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to
