Amid House speaker vacancy, many in GOP want to do away with motion to vacate

Last Updated: October 4, 2023, 5:12 PM EDT

The race is on to elect a new House speaker showdown following the historic ouster of Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday.

Two Republicans have officially thrown their hats into the ring ahead of the party hoping to choose a new leader next week.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news has developed. All times Eastern.
Oct 04, 2023, 10:55 AM EDT

Trump for speaker?

Former President Donald Trump, arriving to court for the third day of his civil fraud trial, commented on the speaker's race -- specifically, the calls from some hard-line conservatives such as Marjorie Taylor Greene for him to serve in the role.

"I'll do whatever it is to help. But my focus, my total focus is being president," he told reporters.

Former President Donald Trump speaks to the media before entering the courtroom at New York Supreme Court, Oct. 4, 2023, in New York.
Mary Altaffer/AP

It's not the first time we've heard Trump's name floated for the position. Back in January, amid McCarthy's fraught battle for the gavel, Gaetz actually cast a ballot for Trump during one of the 15 rounds of voting.

It would technically be possible because the Constitution doesn't specify that the person be a current member or member-elect, but it's not likely.

Trump didn't say who he would like to see succeed McCarthy but said, "We have some great people in the Republican Party that could do a great job as speaker."

-ABC's Lalee Ibssa, Soorin Kim and Kendall Ross

Oct 04, 2023, 10:21 AM EDT

Speaker's office still bears McCarthy's name

Rep. Patrick McHenry, the new speaker pro tempore, is currently occupying the speaker of the House's office in the Capitol. Notably, the sign still reads "Speaker Of The House Kevin McCarthy."

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy returns to his office at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 2, 2023 in Washington, DC.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, FILE

-ABC's Arthur Jones

Oct 04, 2023, 10:14 AM EDT

Jockeying has begun for the speaker's gavel

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has started making the rounds, calling members to see if they would support him if he formally threw his hat in the ring, sources told ABC News.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who has previously dismissed the idea of wanting to be speaker -- would not rule it out on Tuesday night. Republicans sources close to Jordan say he has started to have conversations about a potential bid.

Rep. Jim Jordan
House.gov

Another name being floated for the position: Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern, the head of the Republican Study Committee.

The House has canceled votes and all remaining legislative business for the week. Republicans plan to gather behind closed doors Tuesday for a candidate forum -- eyeing a vote for speaker as early as Wednesday, sources said.

Oct 04, 2023, 10:02 AM EDT

GOP orders another former Democratic leader to vacate Capitol office

Republicans have also ordered Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., to vacate his Capitol hideaway office, a source familiar with the communication confirmed to ABC News. Hoyer served for two decades in House Democratic leadership but stepped away after the 2022 midterm elections, stating it was time for a new generation to take over.

Along with the move to push former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi out of her office, it’s the latest sign of how much hostility exists between Republicans and Democrats following the removal of McCarthy as House speaker.

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