House Republicans are facing mounting pressure to select a new speaker, following the ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week. The Republicans walked out of a conference meeting on Monday night, united in their sense of urgency to choose a new speaker. One of the main debates arising before the closed-door speaker election is whether to raise the threshold required to put a candidate on the House floor. Rep. Steve Womack supports Majority Leader Steve Scalise for Speaker, arguing that changing rules in the middle of an election is unwise. However, Rep. Dusty Johnson, leader of the pragmatic Main Street Caucus, leans towards the change but has not made a final decision. The election for speaker will take place via secret ballot on Wednesday morning.

Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House, and just a few members were able to remove McCarthy as speaker. The last two Republican speakers left under pressure from party hardliners. The race for a new speaker comes at a time when the Middle East is in crisis and there is talk of another government shutdown. In addition to Scalise and Jordan, other candidates may emerge, including McCarthy himself. Republicans are hopeful for a clear majority behind closed doors to elect the next speaker. There is discussion about changing the rule that allowed one lawmaker to call a vote to oust McCarthy. Over 90 Republicans have called for a rule change requiring the nominee to have the support of 217 Republicans. It is expected that the House will have to address the issue of government funding for the new fiscal year before voting for a speaker.

The House GOP is set to vote for their speaker nominee on Wednesday. Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan are vying for the top spot after McCarthy's ousting. The House Republican conference is due to meet on Monday to begin discussions and is expected to convene again on Tuesday to continue their talks. House Democrats are also expected to meet on Tuesday to support their nominee for speaker. Wednesday marks the day of the House GOP vote for speaker, with a floor vote potentially scheduled for the same day. However, if the conference is unable to reach a consensus, a prolonged discussion could push the floor vote to Thursday. The nominee will require a majority of House members to become speaker. McCarthy remains a dark horse candidate, as some Republicans are calling for his reinstatement as speaker.

The fight for the speaker's gavel comes at a crucial time, with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and concerns about aiding Israel. Some Republicans are advocating for McCarthy's return as speaker, citing his support for Israel and his effectiveness in passing legislation. They argue that a vacant speakership could result in roadblocks to aiding Israel and call for bipartisan efforts to reinstate McCarthy as speaker.