Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) has emerged as one of the top two contenders for the vacant position of Speaker of the House. The 58 year old Louisiana Congressman began quietly whipping votes for the top job just moments after McCarthy was ousted by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). The case for a Scalise speakership centers on his decades of political experience, quick ascent through Republican House leadership ranks, and the compelling fact he has literally had to battle for his life, twice.

Known for being a Member that works quietly behind to the scenes to advance legislation, it surprised some that Scalise played a fairly major role in Republican Congressional pushback against Big Tech. According to Nathan Leamer, a Trump administration appointee who served as a senior advisor to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, Scalise was quick to work with conservatives who were concerned Google was throttling political fundraising and activist emails.

“Steve Scalise was ground zero of the effort to push back against Google censoring Republican emails,” Leamer told The National Pulse, while indicating Scalise allowed conservative tech experts to examine his own email data, noting that it was “extremely helpful in holding Google accountable.”

Some have reservations, however. Notably, former President Donald Trump has endorsed Scalise’s opponent, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). Members of Republican Leadership often have to take hard votes that can upset both more conservative Members and voters alike. Votes to support government omnibus bills and continuing resolutions over the past years have resulted in Scalise only attaining a 75 out of 100 ‘Conservative’ life-time score from Heritage Action. Similarly, NumbersUSA says Scalise’s voting record on curbing mass immigration has only earned him a “B” grade.

Prior to serving in Congress, Scalise served in the Louisiana state legislature from 1996 until 2008. In May 2008, he won a special election for Congress, replacing Rep. Bobby Jindal (R-LA), who had just been elected as governor. In 2013 the Louisiana Congressman took over the conservative Republican Study Committee, succeeding Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). Just over a year later, Scalise joined House Republican leadership as Whip. When Republicans retook the House majority after the 2022 mid-term elections he ascended to House Majority Leader.

In June of 2017, Congressman Scalise was shot by Democrat activist and Sen. Bernie Sanders supporter James Hodgkinson during a Republican practice for the Congressional Baseball Game. Hodgkinson fired upwards of 50 rounds from a rifle before police were able to locate him and end the rampage. The bullet that hit Scalise traveled through his pelvis, resulting in organ damage and severe internal bleeding caused by shattered bone. According to Dr. Jack Sava, when Scalise arrived at MedStar Washington Hospital he was in shock and faced “an imminent risk of death.” After several surgeries and an extensive hospital stay, Scalise returned to Congress in September of 2017.

Last month, Scalise was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. Prior to the announcement, Scalise said he had already begun treatment and would continue with his work as a Member of Congress. The Louisiana Congressman has said that doctors believe his prognosis is very good and that the initial rounds of treatment have reduced the presence of cancer in his body.