The 2 main candidates to develop into the following Republican Speaker of the Home labored the telephones and the halls of the Capitol on Thursday, vying for assist from inside their occasion’s fractured ranks because the chamber remained in a state of paralysis after the ouster of Consultant Kevin McCarthy of California.

Representatives Steve Scalise, the bulk chief, and Jim Jordan, the Judiciary Committee chairman, had every landed greater than a dozen endorsements by the afternoon as they raced towards a vote of Republicans tentatively scheduled for Tuesday. An election on the Home ground might observe the following day, although the method might stretch for much longer if no consensus may be reached.

Removed from the Capitol, former President Donald J. Trump, whose far-right acolytes in Congress helped lead the rebel that has plunged the Home into chaos, threatened to weigh in himself in what might develop into an epic wrestle.

Mr. Jordan picked up an necessary G.O.P. backer and cleared a possible challenger from the sector with the endorsement of Consultant Byron Donalds of Florida, who had beforehand been exploring his personal run for speaker, in keeping with an individual acquainted with his calls to lawmakers. Mr. Donalds stated on the social media web site X that Mr. Jordan “has my full assist to develop into the following Speaker of the Home!”

Each Mr. Scalise and Mr. Jordan are confronted with the troublesome problem of trying to unite a fractious Republican convention that’s reeling after Mr. McCarthy’s removing from the speakership.

For Mr. Jordan, an Ohioan and co-founder of the ultraconservative Home Freedom Caucus, the duty will likely be to persuade extra mainstream Republicans that he can govern and never merely tear issues down. He met on Thursday with members of the Important Avenue Caucus, a bunch of business-minded Republicans.

For Mr. Scalise, a Louisianian who has gained convention elections earlier than as majority chief, the problem will likely be to remain one step forward of Mr. Jordan, and make higher inroads with the best wing of the occasion.

Each males are thought-about additional to the best than Mr. McCarthy, some extent Consultant Matt Gaetz of Florida, who led the drive to oust Mr. McCarthy, has famous with a way of satisfaction.

“If it’s Speaker Jim Jordan or Speaker Steve Scalise, there will likely be only a few conservatives within the nation who don’t see that as a monumental improve over Speaker McCarthy,” Mr. Gaetz stated on Newsmax.

Casting a protracted shadow over the race is Mr. Trump, the G.O.P. presidential front-runner who holds heavy sway amongst congressional Republicans due to his sturdy standing with the occasion base, together with lots of their constituents.

Some right-wing Republicans are encouraging Mr. Trump to make a run for speaker himself, although the occasion’s present convention guidelines would block him from doing so as a result of he’s below a number of felony indictments and going through the opportunity of important jail time. Even so, Mr. Trump’s allies have floated the thought he would possibly go to the Capitol subsequent week to lift the opportunity of a run or in any other case weigh in on the race.

“I’ve been contacted by a number of Members of Congress keen to assist and supply nomination speeches for Donald J. Trump to be Speaker of the Home,” Consultant Troy Nehls of Texas wrote on X. “Subsequent week goes to be HUGE.”

Talking outdoors a Manhattan courthouse the place he’s going through a civil fraud case, Mr. Trump appeared to get pleasure from dangling the likelihood, telling reporters: “Lot of individuals have been calling me about speaker. All I can say is we’ll do no matter is finest for the nation and for the Republican Occasion.”

“If I might help them throughout the course of,” he added, “I’ll do it.”

Again within the halls of the Congress, a severe race was taking form.

Mr. Scalise, who has been in management since 2014, has constructed relationships throughout the Republican convention. He has been quietly securing commitments by way of one-on-one calls with members.

On such calls searching for assist, Mr. Scalise has emphasised that he’s second solely to Mr. McCarthy in fund-raising prowess, and he has locked up a string of commitments from the south and the Midwest, in keeping with an individual acquainted with his non-public calls, who described them on the situation of anonymity.

“Not solely is Steve a principled conservative, he has overcome adversity far past the infighting in our convention proper now,” stated Consultant Ashley Hinson of Iowa, who endorsed Mr. Scalise after talking with him.

One clear level of distinction between Mr. Scalise and Mr. Jordan is their dueling positions on continued help to Ukraine for its battle towards Russian aggression, which has develop into more and more politicized and is now regarded by many Republicans as poisonous.

Mr. Jordan was certainly one of 117 Republicans who voted final week towards persevering with a program to coach and equip Ukrainian troops, whereas Mr. Scalise sided with 101 Republicans in supporting it.

“Why ought to we be sending American tax {dollars} to Ukraine after we don’t even know what the aim is?” Mr. Jordan stated Thursday on Fox Information. “Nobody can inform me what the target is.”

A number of Republicans stated they have been ready to listen to extra from the candidates earlier than deciding whom to assist.

Consultant Marc Molinaro of New York stated he had spoken with each Mr. Scalise and Mr. Jordan by telephone.

“There actually wasn’t anyone individual in Congress who labored more durable to assist me get to Congress or to earn my assist than Kevin McCarthy,” Mr. Molinaro stated.

“We now have people who’ve per week,” he added. “And so I’m going to look at, I’m going to pay attention, and I’m going to demand that members like me and the folks we characterize have a seat on the desk, after which decide.”

Robert Jimison contributed reporting.