House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., has dropped out of the race for House speaker.
He announced the decision following a closed-door meeting with fellow House Republicans Thursday evening.
Scalise won a Republican conference vote for the nomination of speaker earlier this week over Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, but many GOP members said they would not vote for him on the House floor.
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Following the conference meeting Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., said he was “not surprised” to see Scalise leave the race. He expressed his support for Jordan and said he thinks he can reach the required votes to become speaker.
Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., who supported Jordan in the conference vote, reacted with a statement saying he remained “committed to doing everything I can to help elect him the next Speaker of the House.”
The race to fill the role that serves as the second place in the presidential order of succession came about after the House voted 216-210 to remove former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., from the position last week.
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This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.
Fox News’ Tyler Olson, Matteo Cina and Chad Pergram contributed to this report.
