The United States House of Representatives took the first step to solving a leadership vacuum Wednesday with the nomination by the divided Republicans of Majority Leader Steve Scalise for the speaker's post.

Scalise, the deputy of ousted speaker Kevin McCarthy, beat Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan to the party nomination, 113 votes to 99.

Jordan's loss dealt a blow to Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, who had endorsed the Ohio representative to be the speaker.

Scalise is facing another party hurdle in the full House voting for the speaker as he had to win Jordan's supporters.

Challenging him for the post is New York congressman Hakeem Jeffries who has 212 votes from a united Democrats.

The speaker race is crucial and urgent as American lawmakers have until 17 November to pass a 2024 budget law or extend the stopgap funding passed last month that prevented a federal government shutdown.

Also, laws related to the Israel emergency and Ukraine war funding have to be passed.