House Planning Second Speaker Vote Today After Jim Jordan Falls Short

Topline

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said the House will vote again to elect a new speaker Tuesday, after he lost the contest by more votes than initially expected—but it’s still not clear whether he has enough backers to win in the second round.

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) listens to nomination speeches for Speaker of the House as the House of … [+] Representatives prepares to vote on a new Speaker at the U.S. Capitol Building on October 17, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Key Facts

Jordan said “that’s the plan” when asked if the House would vote again Tuesday after he lost in the first round when 20 Republicans voted against him, adding that he has “already talked to some members who are gonna vote with us on the second ballot,” according to The Hill.

Jordan indicated voting could stretch to a third round if he loses again, telling reporters “we need to get a speaker as soon as possible.”

Some members, including Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), who voted for Jordan, and Reps. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) and Carlos Gimenez (Fla.), who voted against him, predicted Jordan could lose votes in a second round, while some lawmakers, including Rep. Tom Massie (R-Ky.), said they believe he will win over some of his detractors.

Other Republicans who opposed Jordan, including Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.), who was one of three members to vote for former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) in the first round, suggested they would be be open to changing their votes to back Jordan: “I look forward to discussions with candidates,” D’Esposito said in a statement, adding that he wants a speaker who is open to supporting programs for his district, such as 9/11 victim funding and infrastructure investments.

Tangent

Ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) defended Jordan following his loss on Tuesday and said he believes he should stay in the race, telling reporters “Jordan has just as many votes as I had on the first round.” McCarthy won 203 votes in the first round of his speaker election in January, which stretched into 15 ballots, marking the first time since 1923 the House has taken longer than one round to elect a speaker.

Key Background

Jordan lost the first round of voting Tuesday in a 200-212-20 vote. Six Republicans voted for McCarthy, seven backed former speaker candidate Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), three New York Republicans voted for Zeldin and four others backed other candidates. All 212 voting Democrats cast their ballots for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). After two weeks without a speaker, the House is under intense pressure to elect a replacement for McCarthy ahead of a November 17 deadline to avert a government shutdown and calls for additional funding for Israel to aid its war with Hamas.

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