On paper, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise is the natural Republican lawmaker to ascend to be speaker if his party wins the majority in November, if the current favorite, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, doesn’t make it that far.

Scalise of Louisiana is a well-liked member of the House Republican leadership, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, and a prodigious fundraiser. Scalise is next in line in the GOP leadership ladder to become House speaker if, as expected, Republicans win the majority in the midterm elections after four years in the minority.