Who is Steve Scalise, the Republican nominee for House speaker?

If there are more than a handful of defections, Scalise's chances may become slim

steve_scalise Steve Scalise | Reuters

Republicans, on Wednesday, nominated Steve Scalise to be the speaker after former speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted last week. Scalise, who climbed the ladder ahead of rival Jim Jordan in a secret ballot vote, is still short of the support needed to bag the top post.

If there are more than a handful of defections, Scalise's chances may become slim as the Republicans control the House with a marginal 221-212 majority and Democrats are not expected to vote for any Republican candidate. 

Scalise is the Louisiana congressman, who is battling blood cancer. Scalise was one of the four people shot during a congressional baseball practice outside Washington, D.C. He was seriously wounded but survived. He has, however, been a supporter of the Second Amendment rights, that allow US citizens to own guns. He said the 2017 incident reinforced his position on gun rights as he “was saved by people who had guns.” 

A staunch conservative, he is in favour of implementing strict immigration policies. Scalise has reportedly compared himself to the former grand wizard of the knights of the Ku Klux Klan, David Duke. He also opposed the Electoral College results, that would certify Joe Biden's win after elections in November 2020. 

Before entering politics in 1996, he worked as a software engineer and a marketing executive at a technology company. He has served in the Louisiana legislature from a Metairie-based district, from 1996 to 2008. in 2008, he was elected to Congress. 

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