Spartz says she isn’t committed to Scalise’s speaker fight for the long haul

Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) said she is supporting House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) on the first ballot but is not guaranteeing her support for subsequent ballots.

The Indiana Republican told reporters before heading into the House Republican Conference meeting on Thursday she is not committed to voting for Scalise past the first round of votes.

SPEAKER VOTE: SCALISE AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS COULD BE FACING ANOTHER FLOOR FIASCO

“Conference spoke, I will vote only on the first vote for Steve [Scalise], then maybe on the second,” Spartz said. “I’ll see who is running and then I’ll decide and I may pick some other person.”

When asked how she thinks the chaotic fight will end, Spartz quipped it would end with a new speaker.

Spartz was one of several Republicans to vote against tabling the motion to vacate then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), but ultimately did not join the eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy from the speakership.

Republicans leaving the conference meeting did not express confidence in a speaker being elected in the near term, with Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) calling the meeting a chance for members to “air grievances.”

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Scalise won the vote of the House Republican Conference on Wednesday over Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), but several Republicans have said they will not support Scalise for speaker in a vote on the House floor.

The lower chamber of Congress has been without a speaker since McCarthy was ousted from the speakership in a historic vote. Until a new speaker is elected, the House is unable to carry out any legislative activity.