Topline
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) lost the second round of the House speaker election Wednesday when four more Republicans joined the coalition of defectors who blocked him from clinching the gavel in Tuesday’s initial round of voting—leaving the House in a cloud of uncertainty as pressure mounts to resume legislative business.
Always a bridesmaid? Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) waits on tenterhooks as the House of Representatives … [+]
Key Facts
Jordan lost Wednesday’s election 212-199-22.
All 212 Democrats again backed Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).
Two of the Republicans who voted against Jordan Tuesday—Reps. Victoria Spartz (Ind.) and Doug LaMalfa (Calif.)—changed their votes to back him in Wednesday’s election.
But four additional GOP members—Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa), Pete Stauber (Minn.), Drew Ferguson (Ga.) and Vern Buchanan (Fla.)—cast their ballots for other candidates in Wednesday’s second round.
Seven Republicans voted for former speaker candidate Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and five voted for Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was ousted from the speakership by the House on October 3.
Tangent
Jordan defectors voted for several new candidates Wednesday: Rep. Stauber cast his ballot for Rep. Bruce Westerman (Ark.), Rep. Miller-Meeks for Rep. Kay Granger (Texas), Rep. John James (Mich.) for former Rep. Candice Miller (Mich.), Rep. Buchanan for Rep. Byron Donalds (Fla.) and Rep. Mike Kelly (Pa.) for former House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).
Key Background
House Republicans chose Jordan as their nominee Friday after their initial pick, Scalise, dropped out of the race when it became apparent he did not have the votes to win. On Tuesday, Jordan became only the second speaker candidate since 1923 to lose the election in the first round of voting after 20 GOP members—more than expected headed into Tuesday’s election—cast their ballots for other candidates. All 212 Democrats voted for Jeffries on Tuesday, while 200 Republicans backed Jordan. Elected to represent his central Ohio district in 2006, Jordan is a founding member of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus and such a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump he continues to defend Trump’s unfounded claims that he is the true winner of the 2020 presidential election.
What To Watch For
A coalition of Republicans, led by Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), are considering filing a motion to extend the powers of Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) to allow him to bring legislation to the floor. As speaker pro tem, McHenry is currently limited to overseeing the speaker election, effectively stalling legislative business in the House. The GOP lawmakers are pushing the effort as the House faces pressure to begin negotiations on a fiscal year 2024 budget ahead of a November 17 deadline to avert a government shutdown and to pass legislation to aid Israel and Ukraine in their respective wars.
Further Reading
House Speaker Election: If Jordan Fails Again, GOP May Vote To Expand Acting Speaker’s Powers (Forbes)
Jim Jordan Loses First Round Of House Speaker Election As 20 Republicans Defect (Forbes)
Jim Jordan—Trump Ally, One Of Congress’s Most Conservative—Wants To Be Speaker. Here’s What You Need To Know About Him. (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/10/18/house-speaker-election-jim-jordan-loses-second-round-as-more-republicans-vote-against-him/