Scalise to publish memoir ‘Back in the Game’

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise is writing a memoir, one year after the Louisiana Republican nearly lost his life during a shooting at a congressional baseball practice near Washington, D.C.

The 304-page book, titled “Back in the Game,” is scheduled to be published by Center Street on Nov. 13, according to a page that appeared on the website of online retailer Amazon on Monday.

GOP sources close to Scalise also confirmed he would publish a memoir this fall. The Associated Press first reported news of the book.

The publication date is a week after the Nov. 6 midterm election and about the time House Republicans will return to the Capitol to select their new leadership team as Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is retiring from Congress.

That’s significant because Scalise, the No. 3 House GOP leader, has positioned himself as a likely Speaker candidate in the event that Ryan’s heir apparent, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), can’t secure the 218 votes needed to be elected Speaker.

According to the Amazon page, Scalise’s book will tell the “minute-by-minute fight for his life and his long recovery after he was shot” in Alexandria, Va., last June while practicing for a congressional baseball charity game.  

“This tight, inspirational narrative includes a dramatic retelling of the shooting and the heroism of Rep. Brad Wenstrup — an Army Reserve officer and combat medic, along with the Capital Police, the first responders and trauma team who saved Rep. Scalise’s life,” the Amazon page says.

“Representative Scalise believes that his faith, the grace of God and the power of prayer had a great deal to do with his recovery, and he will share stories and experiences that illustrate the many miracles that occurred to keep him alive.”

Police have said the shooting was carried out by James Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Ill., who in the past had railed against President Trump and GOP leaders. He shot Scalise once in the hip, shattering his pelvis and causing damage to organs and severe internal bleeding.

Others shot that day were Capitol Police Officer Crystal Griner, who was part of Scalise’s security detail; congressional aide Zack Barth; and Matt Mika, a lobbyist. Hodgkinson died after being shot by police.

Scalise said he feels well enough to return to the baseball diamond on Thursday, when the charity Congressional Baseball Game will be played at Nationals Park. It will fall on the first anniversary of the Alexandria shooting.