WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Representative Steve Scalise, the Louisiana Republican who Republicans nominated to be the next speaker of the House of Representatives, dropped out of the race on Thursday, October 12,  as the party failed to resolve its divisions, prolonging the leadership crisis in the chamber, an AP report says.

The announcement came after a day full of lengthy meetings with fellow Republicans that several described as unproductive. Scalise had narrowly edged Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in a Wednesday, October 11  conference vote to be named speaker-designate but had made little progress getting to the 217 votes he would need in a floor vote to win the gavel.

“I just shared with my colleagues that I was withdrawing my name as a candidate for our speaker designee,” Mr. Scalise told reporters.

“If you look at over the last few weeks, if you look at where our conference is, there is still work to be done… There are still some people that have their own agendas.” Without a speaker, the House is unable to consider any legislation to aid Israel in its war against Hamas or pass any appropriations bills to avoid a potential government shutdown in mid-November.