Hinson, Miller-Meeks support Steve Scalise for new speaker of the House

Two Iowa representatives are supporting Majority Leader Steve Scalise for Speaker.

Liam Halawith, Senior News and Politics Editor

October 5, 2023

U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, speaks to supporters during a watch party for the 2022 Iowa midterm elections at Spare Time in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. Hinson is up for reelection for her seat in the house against state Sen. Liz Mathis, D-Hiawatha. Because of redistricting, Hinson is now battling for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, previously she held the seat for the 1st Congressional District. Hinson announced her victory after Mathis conceded.

U.S. Reps. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, are supporting House Majority leader Steve Scalise, R-La., following the ouster of former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif on Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., led a bid to remove McCarthy from his speakership on Tuesday. The bid came after McCarthy relied on Democratic support for a continuing resolution that helped avert a government shutdown over the weekend.

Gaetz and other Republicans threatened to use the motion to vacate the speakership and remove McCarthy if he were to go against their wishes. The motion to vacate became easier to bring to a vote in January after 15 failed votes to install McCarthy as speaker.

Hinson said Republicans need a speaker who can hold the Republican conference together and keep their grasp on a razor thin majority. Currently, Republicans only have a nine-vote majority in the house.

“Not only is Steve a principled conservative, he has overcome adversity far beyond the infighting in our Conference right now,” Hinson said in a Thursday news release. “He has the grit, strength, and faith to lead us and deliver for the American people.”

Miller-Meeks showed her support on X, formerly known as Twitter, for majority leader Scalise.

I am proud to support @SteveScalise in his bid to become the 56th Speaker of the House. Under his leadership, this Conference will unite and continue to the great work for the American people.

It's time to get the Republicans "Back In The Game!" pic.twitter.com/XF8zol2q0j

— Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (@RepMMM) October 5, 2023

About the Contributors

Liam Halawith, Politics Editor

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Liam Halawith is a third-year student at the University of Iowa studying Journalism and Mass Communication and minoring in Public Policy. Before his role as Politics Editor Liam was a politics reporter for the DI. Outside of the DI Liam has interned at the Cedar Rapids Gazette and the Southeast Iowa Union. This is his second year working for the DI.

Ayrton Breckenridge, Managing Visuals Editor

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Ayrton Breckenridge is the Managing Visuals Editor at The Daily Iowan. He is a senior at the University of Iowa majoring in journalism and cinema. This is his fourth year working for the DI.