In a surprising turn of events, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has announced that he has no plans to resign his seat and will run for a 10th term next year. Speculations had been circulating that McCarthy was considering an early exit from Congress after losing his speakership on Tuesday. However, McCarthy firmly denied these reports, stating that he will finish out his current term representing California's 20th Congressional District and seek re-election in 2024.

Kevin McCarthy has a long history in Congress, having been first elected in 2006. He worked his way up the House Republican hierarchy to eventually become Speaker of the House in January. However, his tenure as speaker was cut short when he was deposed in an unprecedented vote. Despite this setback, McCarthy has ruled himself out as a candidate to retake the job and has expressed his intention to "continue to fight" for the American people, albeit "maybe in a different manner."

With McCarthy out of the race, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan have emerged as the front-runners to succeed him. Former President Donald Trump, who was once the preferred choice of several House Republicans, has thrown his support behind Jordan. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump revealed his "Complete & Total Endorsement" of Jordan, calling him a “star” who is "respected by all." Trump's endorsement is expected to give Jordan a significant boost in the speakership race.

Interestingly, Trump himself had previously indicated that he would consider serving as Speaker of the House if necessary to unite the GOP. He expressed his willingness to take on the role for a short-term period, such as 30, 60, or 90 days, but emphasized that his primary focus is his presidential campaign for 2024. Trump plans to travel to Washington, DC, next week to meet with Republican lawmakers during a candidate forum to discuss potential options for the vacant speakership position.

While Trump's endorsement has solidified Jordan's position as a front-runner, some GOP lawmakers who had previously expressed support for a Trump speakership have not yet publicly switched their allegiances to Jordan. This includes Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Greg Steube. Additionally, it is worth noting that current House GOP rules prohibit individuals with felony indictments from serving as speaker, which would make Trump ineligible. However, there is a possibility that these rules could be altered to allow for a Trump speakership.

As the House prepares to elect a new speaker, the race is becoming increasingly intense. McCarthy's decision to seek re-election adds a new dynamic to the unfolding drama, and it remains to be seen how his presence will impact the outcome. With Trump's support firmly behind Jordan, and with Scalise also in the running, the battle for the speakership promises to be fiercely contested.