Scalise edged out Ohio Republican Jim Jordan with 113 votes to Jordan's 99, enough to win the nomination in a closed-door conference meeting Wednesday.

"There is a lot of busy work to do, a lot of work to do on behalf of people who are struggling not only here in America but people all around the world. We have a lot of work to do," Scalise said after the vote.

The vote didn't immediately settle the issue, however.

"Leader Scalise won, but it's not over. I'm still throwing my support behind Jim Jordan for Speaker and I'm not going to change my vote now or any time soon on the House floor," said Rep. Max Miller (R-OH). Miller and a handful of other Republicans didn't commit to supporting Scalise in a floor vote in the immediate aftermath of the nomination.

Some Republicans wanted to change a rule requiring 217 votes from the conference in order to secure the nomination. That didn't happen, meaning the divide could spill out into a floor vote. The future Speaker would need 217 votes on the floor to get the gavel.

"We can't afford this dysfunction. The nation can't afford it. The American people can't afford it. We need a speaker in the chair. We're in dangerous times right now. We're in potentially three global conflicts right now, and we cannot afford to not have a speaker in the chair. And the first bill the speaker told me will be my resolution condemning Hamas and praising in support of Israel," said Rep. Mike McCaul (R-TX).

Meanwhile, Democrats have made it clear they'll only vote for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries while Republicans work out their differences.

"What we spent our morning talking about was Israel, policy, friendship, alliance, strength, national security. That's what the Democratic caucus talked about this morning, in classified and unclassified versions. The Republican conference is talking about rule changes and who's in charge. Dramatic difference," said Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA).

It took former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) 15 rounds of floor votes and hours of debate earlier this year before he won the speakership.

Republicans are hoping to lock up enough votes for Scalise before it potentially spills over to another multi-round marathon on the House floor. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

Matt Galka serves as a Capitol Hill Correspondent and Senior Washington Correspondent for CBN News.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Why the New RomCom ‘MERV’ Can Bring You Joy This Christmas

How the 'Heavens Declare the Glory of God': What One Man's Research Has Revealed about The Star of Bethlehem

Over 50 Tren de Aragua Gang Members Imported Under Democrats Indicted in Nebraska in Massive Nationwide ATM Jackpotting Scheme

205 Child Victims Located and Rescued in DOJ Sex Exploitation Op

Trump Admin Pausing All Off Shore Wind Project Construction Due To National Security Concerns

Trump Grants Federal Workers Two Additional Christmas Holidays

America Fest 2025: Erika Kirk Endorses 'My Husband's Friend' JD Vance for President

Brent Bozell Confirmed as US Ambassador to South Africa

Jury Quickly Convicts Judge Who Helped Illegal Migrant Escape ICE

Feds Estimate Somali-Linked Fraud in Walz's Minnesota Could Top $9 Billion

Trump SUSPENDS 'Green Card Lottery' after Program Let Brown University–MIT Shooting Suspect Enter the US

Brown, MIT Shooter Found Dead for Days in NH Storage Unit; Motive Still a Mystery

House Passes Bill to Criminalize Transgender Mutilation of Children

November Inflation Falls to 2.7%, Lower than Expected: 'This Is Good News for Wall Street; It’s Good News for Main Street'

MOVIEGUIDE's Review of the New Animated Film: DAVID

Massachusetts Drops Controversial Gender Ideology Mandate for Licensing Foster Care Parents

Nearly 40% of Women Suffer Severe Grief for Years after Abortion, Miscarriage: Study

Former Pfizer Vice President: COVID Shots Were 'Designed to Cause Injury,' Reduce Fertility

Dutch Sheets Shares a Warning from the US National Counterterrorism Center

Venezuela: Trump's Pressure Campaign and Maduro's Fury