Steve Scalise wins internal vote to become GOP's speaker nominee

• Scalise — who was elected to the House in 2007 — previously served as the chair of the Republican Study Committee before being tapped for leadership in 2014.
• Scalise previously sustained near-fatal injuries after being shot at a congressional baseball practice in in 2017.

Between the lines: Multiple Republicans left the vote on Wednesday saying they'll still vote for Jordan, setting up the prospect of Scalise failing to secure the speakership on a first ballot.

• "I'm voting for Jordan," said Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio.)
• "I'm voting for Jim Jordan on the floor," said Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.).
• Scalise will need 217 Republicans to back him on the floor if every Democrat votes.

The intrigue: The race for the nomination was neck-and-neck leading up to the conference election, with both candidates struggling to rally the support needed.

• Scalise prevailed despite some members voicing concerns about his recent cancer diagnosis and former President Trump endorsing Jordan.
• Multiple GOP sources argued that the Trump endorsement may have helped solidify Scalise's support with moderates.
• Scalise supporters noted his fundraising prowess and member services operation help him gain favor with members.

The big picture: The next speaker will be tasked with attempting to unify a highly-fractured conference with a slim majority, with one of their first challenges expected to be averting a government shutdown.