House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) has withdrawn from the race to become the chamber’s next speaker, he said Thursday night.
“I just shared with my colleagues that I’m withdrawing my name as a candidate for the speaker designate,” Scalise told reporters.
The decision will throw the party into more chaos as it works to find a Republican who can appeal to at least 217 House lawmakers following the shock removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) earlier this month.
Scalise has spent most of Thursday trying to woo more votes after winning the endorsement of a majority of the party on Wednesday.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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