WASHINGTON — FOX News will host a joint interview on Monday evening from Capitol Hill with two candidates for speaker of the U.S. House.
The two men participating in the joint interview at 6 p.m. Eastern are Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio.
FOX had said Republican Study Committee Chairman Kevin Hern of Oklahoma also was set to participate, but early Friday afternoon he said on X, formerly Twitter, “I still haven’t made a decision on my candidacy for speaker, but I know one thing for sure. I will not be participating in the televised debate. We need to make this decision as a conference, not on TV. The Republican conference needs a family discussion.”
According to FOX News, its anchor Bret Baier “will press the congressmen on who should be the next Speaker of the House and discuss the issues facing Congress and the Republican party going forward.”
After former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was removed Tuesday — the first time in Congress’ history – it created a vacuum in the chamber, and left many questions on how the House can function without a speaker.
Currently, North Carolina Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry — a McCarthy ally — is in the role of speaker pro tempore until a new speaker is chosen by Republicans.
Following the motion to vacate by GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, McCarthy announced he did not have plans to run again for speaker.
Scalise and Jordan announced Wednesday their bids for the speaker’s gavel.
This article originally appeared in florida phoenix