Reps. Debbie Lesko and Paul Gosar pick opposite sides in the House speaker’s race

Two of Arizona’s six House Republicans threw their weight behind candidates in next week’s race to replace ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Rep. Paul Gosar endorsed Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio; he's a right-wing firebrand known as a loyal ally of former President Donald Trump. Trump also wants Jordan to get the speaker's gavel.

Rep. Debbie Lesko endorsed Jordan’s leading challenger, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a longtime member of House GOP leadership.

Arizona’s other four House Republicans, Reps. Andy Biggs, Eli Crane, David Schweikert and Juan Ciscomani, had not yet thrown their support behind a particular candidate as of Friday afternoon. Biggs wrote on social media earlier this week that he would support “the most conservative speaker who can get 218 votes.”

Two of Arizona's House Democrats, Reps. Greg Stanton and Raúl Grijalva, said Thursday that they would consider voting for a Republican they deem trustworthy and moderate, but that none of the current GOP contenders fit the bill.

Explaining her endorsement, Lesko said in a written statement that Scalise’s skill set “better suits the job of speaker,” writing that Scalise can unite the caucus and has built relationships in swing districts.

Gosar praised Jordan for being “tenacious, smart and America First.”

Scalise and Jordan each had gathered between 30 and 40 public endorsements as of Friday afternoon, according to a rough tally by political analyst Nathaniel Rakich with the publication FiveThirtyEight. They would need either 218 votes, or a majority of lawmakers present to win election.

The Republican caucus is scheduled to hold internal elections next Wednesday, Oct. 11.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Reps. Debbie Lesko and Paul Gosar pick sides in the Speaker’s race