Republicans Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise launch House speakership bids

Hardline conservatives confirm intentions to run for the top House job a day after Kevin McCarthy was ousted by his own party

• Republicans scramble after McCarthy ouster - live updates

Jim Jordan of Ohio and Steve Scalise of Louisiana announced Wednesday that they would seek to succeed Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the US House of Representatives, after the Californian was brutally removed by his own Republican party on Tuesday.

Jordan is chair of the powerful judiciary committee, while Scalise is the majority leader. Both had been named as potential successors to McCarthy, and they confirmed their intentions to run for the top House job a day after the speakership was declared vacant.