House of the United StatesHouse Of Representatives is hereby declared vacant. Mccarthys cardinal sin, say his critics, was working with President Biden and the democrats on a last minute Budget Agreement to avoid a Government Shutdown last weekend. Lets take a closer look at the lawmakers who want to take his place. Jim jordan of ohio was first elected to congress in 2007. And on friday morning his bid got a major boost. Former Preident Donald trump Writing On Truth Social jordan is one of trumps biggest congressional allies, receiving the president ial medal of freedom from trump in a closed door ceremonyjust days after the 6 january capitol riot in 2021. Jordan is 59 years old. He currently chairs the Housejudiciary Committee where he launched several investigations into President Biden, his son hunter, and the fbi. He is also a founder and former chairman of the ultraconservative House Freedom caucus and was among more than 100 republicans who voted against 300 million in aid for ukraine. Then theres Steve Scalise of louisiana. As majority leader, hes the number two ranking republican in the House Of Representatives, elected to congress in 2008. The 57 year old announced in august he was undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. And in 2017, scalise was gravely wounded during a shooting targeting republican members during a Baseball Practice in virginia. 0n ukraine, scalise joined more than 300 other members of Congress Voting to approve 300 million in aid to ukraine last week. For more, i spoke earlier with congressional reporter for politco anthony adragna. Thank you for being here. Weve been hearing about the top two candidates now for the speaker of the house, jim jordan, Steve Scalise, do you have a sense of which one of those might have the most support right now among republicans in the house . I think certainly as you are alluding to the fact that President Trump has weighed in on behalf of congressmen jordan, excuse me, will be a major boon for his candidacy, but i think the challenge right now for any candidate for speaker is trying to get the 218. At this point we dont see anyone with a clear path to getting support they would need to win over the entirety of the republican conference little enough votes to actually when a vote on the house floor, so this race remains very fluid and there is nobody who appears to have the efficient support locked up at this point. figs to have the efficient support locked up at this point. As we ust locked up at this point. As we just saw. Locked up at this point. As we just saw. On locked up at this point. As we just saw, on tuesday, locked up at this point. As we just saw, on tuesday, so locked up at this point. As we just saw, on tuesday, so a i just saw, on tuesday, so a small group of republicans asked the last speaker Kevin Mccarthy, whoever comes out on top of this race, whatever that might be, how vulnerable do you think they might be to something similar happening in terms of a challenge to their power . Terms of a challenge to their ower . � ,. ,. , terms of a challenge to their ower . H. ,. , power . Its a great question i think its power . Its a great question i think its one power . Its a great question i think its one of power . Its a great question i think its one of the power . Its a great question i think its one of the main power . Its a great question i | think its one of the main ones will have to see answered before anybody emerges from this contest. There are a number of members of the republican conference that still feel really raw emotions from what happened on tuesday. They think Kevin Mccarthy was poorly treated by having this mechanism in place that allows anyone member to sort of force anyone member to sort of force a vote to expel the speaker. 0bviously Congressmen matt gaetz lead that pushed successfully this week. There are dozens of republicans that want to see changes to that threshold to make it at least more than one person, many would like to see at a majority of the republican conference would be needed to trigger a similar note in the future, so i think thats one of the key questions we will have to see answered among republicans before they popped and pick who this person will be that will leave them. Its figuring out internally what sort of changes need to be made to make whoever comes next are less vulnerable to a lot of these challenges. Some people, some observers think this could be a very drawnout contest here to decide who the next speaker of the house might be. How would that delay affects, all the business in the house need to get done . A potential ukraine funding bill and several different bills that will be needed to keep the government open beyond mid november . Keep the government open beyond midnovember . Midnovember . Another great. Uestion midnovember . Another great question and midnovember . Another great question and it midnovember . Another great question and it all midnovember . Another great question and it all depends midnovember . Another great question and it all depends on | question and it all depends on how long the process takes. There are many people who think it could take the better part of a month. 0bviously Congress has just passed a short term Continuing Resolution that extended funding into mid november but the speaker race takes a protracted period of time, but obviously will make a lot harder for the of time, but obviously will make a lot harderfor the house to come in and away and as they want on how to keep the government funded. Ukraine is obviously a big part of that as well. I think there is no question that Speaker Mccarthy being booted earlier this week will make it harder and harder. It was probably already going to be hard to get additional ukraine funding approved this year. There is no question in my mind that action this week will make it all the more hard to get additional funding approved. The House Republicans conference is not super amenable now to approve additional aid certainly without major conditions and the fact there is so much uncertainty around their leadership right now, only adds to the sense of uncertainty moving forward with regards to ukraine in particular. Ukraine in particular. What about the ukraine in particular. What about the democrats . Ukraine in particular. What about the democrats . Funding for ukraine is something high on their agenda. Could they be flanking maker here . We saw the entire Caucus Lanotte devote Kevin Mccarthy out. This could be another type race. Are there candidates democrats might support . Candidates democrats might suort . ,. ,. , candidates democrats might suort . ,. , support . Democrats have been united so far. Support . Democrats have been united so far. They support . Democrats have been united so far. They were support . Democrats have been united so far. They were united in voting to send Speaker Mccarthy out of the speakership. Theyve been spea kership. Theyve been united speakership. Theyve been united against king jeffries, their leader, and i wouldnt expect that a change here. They may try to exact certain concessions from the republican speaker candidate in exchange for their votes. They may try. I dont think theyll be successful in that regard. I think both parties are pretty darkin think both parties are pretty dark in here and certainly polarisation in washington has never been greater, the fact you are seeing such a narrowly divided house, have included to speak about how the support of more than 95 of the conference is pretty indicative of that. And so, i dont expect the worse orfor better, and so, i dont expect the worse or for better, i and so, i dont expect the worse orfor better, i dont expect the gates of bipartisanship to open up anytime soon. It bipartisanship to open up anytime soon. Bipartisanship to open up anytime soon. Bipartisanship to open up an imesoon. ,. , anytime soon. It should be an interesting anytime soon. It should be an interesting week anytime soon. It should be an| interesting week nonetheless. Anthony adragna, krugervillage anthony adragna, Kruger Village anthony adragna, krugervillage , of reporter with politico. Before we go much further, lets lay out what exactly the speaker does, and why thejob is so important. The speaker runs the House Of Representatives, and its 435 members. That means overseeing the daily business of the chamber and setting the voting agenda. Traditionally, they are the leader of the Largest Party in the house. Currently, the republicans have more seats than the democrats, by a count of 221 to 212, with two seats vacant. And the speaker is second in line to the presidency after the vice president. So its hardly a symbolic post. It wields real power. One of those who will have a say in selecting the next speaker of the house is mike lawler, republican congressman from new york. I spoke with him a short time ago. Thank you for being here. I want to start with former president donald trump. The hearing he has Endorsedjim Jordan in the speaker race. Whats your reaction to that and how might trumps endorsement affect the race . This will be a decision made by the conference and the conference alone. The former president certainly is entitled to offer his opinion on it but i think the conference is going to be getting together on monday for what is going to be i think a rather long and blunt discussion about how we move forward. And obviously the focus will turn to the speakers race and selecting a candidate can receive 218 votes on the house floor. You candidate can receive 218 votes on the house floor. On the house floor. You voted of course on the house floor. You voted of course to on the house floor. You voted of course to support on the house floor. You voted of course to support former i of course to support former speaker Kevin Mccarthy. Will you now vote to support either of these two top candidates, eitherjim jordan of these two top candidates, eitherjimjordan or of these two top candidates, eitherjim jordan or Steve Scalise . Ive not decided yet who ill be supporting, im looking forward to the discussion. I think there is a lot of questions that need to be answered for whoever the next speaker is. And in large part, how we are going to effectively govern as a majority. What happened last week was disgusting, it was unnecessary, and torpedoed our very majority, and put a lot of It Injeopardy if going forward, frankly. So i think there needs to be a real reckoning within the conference and a discussion, and so ive not made any decisions yet as to who i will or wont support, but i think the conversation is necessary to make that determination. As it stands now one of the top speaker for the candidacy, jim jordan, spoken against every ukrainian aid bill thats been brought to the fore, for since the invasion by russia began. How important is it you that the next speaker of the house supports aid package for ukraine . I supports aid package for ukraine . Supports aid package for ukraine . ~. , , ukraine . I think obviously you have the white ukraine . I think obviously you have the white house ukraine . I think obviously you have the white house and ukraine . I think obviously you have the white house and thej have the white house and the senate aligned. Increasing aid to ukraine. A majority of the housein to ukraine. A majority of the house in the recent vote supported aid to ukraine. So, it is clear that this is an issue thats going to need to be addressed. And whoever the next speaker as he is going to have to work with the white house, with the senate, and with the house, to come to an agreement on next steps. There is no question that needs to be accountability and transparency, as many of my colleagues have called for, and the white house needs to put forth a plan to congress and identify what the goals and the objectives are and frankly what the endgame is, ultimately, because this is not something obviously that we can continue in perpetuity. But certainly, i have supported and will continue to support to ukraine. I think it is imperative that we hold Vladimir Putin accountable for his conduct and i think there are real consequences if ukraine falls, especially in the indo pacific, so there is a lot at stake here, there is a lot that goes into this, and i think obviously it is going to require a thorough discussion with whoever the next speaker is. � ,. ,. ,. , is. Beyond ust wanting to ukraine is. Beyond just wanting to ukraine there is. Beyond just wanting to ukraine there is is. Beyond just wanting to ukraine there is lots is. Beyond just wanting to ukraine there is lots of. Is. Beyond just wanting to i ukraine there is lots of work that needs to get done in the house, several appropriations bill the need to be passed. There is only funny for the government through mid november. How concerned are you that a Drawnout Process to select a new speaker could lead to another Government Shutdown . Bring you up to the brink once again . Bring you up to the brink once aiain . ~ bring you up to the brink once aiain . ,. , bring you up to the brink once aiain . ,. , again . We obviously avoid the otential again . We obviously avoid the potential of again . We obviously avoid the potential of a again . We obviously avoid the potential of a shutdown again . We obviously avoid the potential of a shutdown with l again . We obviously avoid the| potential of a shutdown with an agreement last saturday that would have 45 day crm place. The objective is to choose a speaker as quickly as possible so you can get back to focusing On The Issues that matter to the American People. Starting with obviously are spending and the appropriations process, as well as securing our southern border. And dealing with the migrant crisis that has impacted communities all across this country, including my state of new york, and so, it is imperative that we have the time and the ability to deal with these issues before 17 november, and certainly try to get to the appropriations process. If we were up against the clock, as i said repeatedly, we cannot shut the government down and we would need to consider another six cr but it is imperative that we get back to work and focused on Theissues Get Back to work and focused On The Issues that matter to the American People another cr. Republican repetitive mike lawler, thank you for taking the time to speak to us. Thank ou. So thats the republican view. Lets switch to the democrats now. For that, my colleague Sumi Somaskanda spoke earlier with congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi from illinois. Congressmen, great to have you back on bbc news. It is not yet clear when there will be a vote for speaker of the house, possibly wednesday. What you are hearing and seeing from your republican colleagues across the aisle what you expect to see next week . I dont know. I always think a know what is going to happen and then im surprised when things unfold the way they do. On wednesday, i suspect we will see the balloting and elections and, some of your viewers might recall, there was a very interesting affair the last time this happened injanuary. I hope its not as chaotic and its not the circus it was back then. ~. ,. , its not the circus it was back then. ~. , i. , ~ its not the circus it was back then. ~. ,. ,~. , then. What you make of the former president then. What you make of the former president reportedly i former president reportedly visiting the capitol on tuesday with yellow eye honestly dont know. Some people say he is merely going to help unify people ahead of their elections on wednesday. 0ther people ahead of their elections on wednesday. Other people think he is actually thinking of serving as a candidate and i think he pulled out on true social that he is supporting jim jordan but social that he is supporting jimjordan but he is also saying im hoping to be a unifying candidate. The short answer is unifying candidate. The short answer is i unifying candidate. The short answer is i think unifying candidate. The short answer is i think wherever. Answer is i think wherever there is a tv camera and, in this case, wherever there is no judge presiding in a courtroom i think donald trump will want to be there and i suspect he might appear to be there and i suspect he mightappearat to be there and i suspect he might appear at the capitol. You mention the namejim jordan, he seems to be, at the moment, the favourite to be the next speaker, at least from the republican side. Would you, would democrats consider supporting him . Im would democrats consider supporting him . Would democrats consider supporting him . Im not sure about that. Supporting him . Im not sure about that. Jim supporting him . Im not sure about that. Jim jordan supporting him . Im not sure about that. Jim jordan is about that. Jim jordan is basically Donald Trumps lieutenant in congress and may be concern is thatjim jordan is potentially going to pursue an agenda to help Donald TrumpsResidential Campaign as opposed to doing what is in the best interests of the American People. When