"Jordan Emerges as Top Contender for House Speaker After Scalise's Withdrawal"

Representative Austin Scott of Georgia, a mainstream conservative and ally of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, has emerged as a challenger to Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio in the Republican party feud over selecting a new House speaker. Scott's unexpected entry into the race prolongs the infighting among Republicans, who have been divided since a hard-right faction forced out McCarthy and refused to back the party's chosen successor, Representative Steve Scalise. Jordan, a favorite of former President Donald Trump's, is seeking to unite the party and emerge as a consensus choice, while Scott aims to restore normal operations in Congress. The House Republicans are regrouping after Scalise's withdrawal and are expected to choose a new nominee.