Republicans could introduce resolution as soon as today to empower the interim speaker
From CNN's Lauren Fox and Manu Raju
Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Patrick McHenry presides over the House of Representatives as they prepare to vote on a new Speaker of the House at the US Capitol Building on October 17 in Washington, DC. Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Republicans are discussing bringing forward a resolution to empower interim Speaker Patrick McHenry as soon as this afternoon, two sources tell CNN.
GOP Rep. Dave Joyce is leading the charge on the measure to empower McHenry and could introduce it as a privileged resolution as soon as today, but he said he wants to "see how the vote goes." Joyce, an Ohio Republican, voted for Jordan on the first ballot.
It would come after a potential failed speaker vote for Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan – a second ballot or third ballot – and assuming he withdraws his bid.
If a resolution is introduced on the floor, it would be considered “privileged” meaning it would need to be acted on within two legislative days.
The resolution to empower McHenry would need Democratic support since many Republicans oppose the idea.
The move could give Democrats an opportunity to seek some concessions from Republicans in exchange for their votes.
Democrats have been floating three things they'd want in exchange including:
Bringing a spending package to the floor that funds government at the levels agreed to between Biden and McCarthy in May
A promise to put Ukraine and Israel aid on the floor
Assurances members could have more power to bring legislation to the floor if the majority backs it
The last ask would be a hard sell for the Republican majority.
The members behind this effort to empower McHenry have reached a breaking point.
It's been two weeks without a speaker, 10 days since an attack on Israel and just one month until another funding deadline looms. No one seems to be able to garner the support to become speaker with just GOP votes and the conference is bitterly divided. In other words, many members view this path as the only viable way forward even if it is just a temporary solution.
25 min ago
GOP opposition to Jordan is expected to grow today
From CNN's Manu Raju
A Republican House member opposed to Rep. Jim Jordan told CNN that opposition to his speaker candidacy will grow, especially if it goes to a third round of balloting — with potentially 25 Republicans voting against him. They hope this will convince him to withdraw.
“The opposition is organized. We’re in tight comms, unified, and growing,” the member said.
Jordan fell short of securing the speakership during the first round of voting yesterday with 20 Republicans voting against him. Republicans are discussing bringing forward a resolution to empower interim Speaker Patrick McHenry if Jordan falls short on a second or third ballot today.
25 min ago
Key things to know about Jordan's failed House speaker vote on Tuesday— and what is expected to happen today
From CNN's Jeremy Herb, Manu Raju, Melanie Zanona, Annie Grayer and Haley Talbot
Rep. Jim Jordan arrives inside the House Chamber prior to the first vote for a new Speaker of the House at the Capitol in Washington, DC on Tuesday. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Conservative Republican Rep. Jim Jordan called off a second speaker’s vote Tuesday evening while he scrambled behind the scenes to try to win over 20 Republicans who voted against him earlier in the day.
Jordan has scheduled another vote for speaker for 11 a.m. ET Wednesday, where the Ohio Republican and his allies hope to see his support increase even in the face of entrenched opposition.
The level of GOP opposition to Jordan during Tuesday’s speaker’s vote – held exactly two weeks after the House ousted Kevin McCarthy – was a disappointment for Jordan’s allies who had expressed hopes that the number of holdouts would only be in the single digits.
The 20 Republicans who voted against Jordan include House Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger of Texas, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado and a quartet of New York Republicans in purple districts. The anti-Jordan contingent cast six votes for McCarthy, seven votes for Majority Leader Steve Scalise and three for former New York GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin, among other alternatives.
Jordan’s opponents come from several factions. There are centrist Republicans concerned that the face of the House GOP would be a conservative hardliner, as well as lawmakers still furious at the small group of Republicans who forced out McCarthy and then opposed the speaker nomination of Scalise, who initially defeated Jordan inside the GOP conference, 113 to 99. Seven members of the House Appropriations Committee – which has fought Jordan’s opposition to spending bills for years – voted against Jordan.
Jordan can only afford to lose four GOP votes. The House’s slim margin is what led to McCarthy’s removal at the hands of a band of eight GOP rebels – and now a similarly sized group of House Republicans could block Jordan’s ascension, too.
After the first vote, the House recessed and Jordan shuffled between the speaker’s office and the majority whip’s office holding meetings, before Jordan said the next vote would be on Wednesday.
“We’re making progress. I feel good about it. We’re going to keep going,” Jordan said Tuesday afternoon. “I had great conversations, great discussions with our colleagues.”
Round two: The House is set to vote again today for a speaker after Rep. Jim Jordan failed to secure enough votes Tuesday in the first round of voting. The Ohio Republican has been scrambling to win over holdouts, but opposition to his speakership bid is expected to grow if it goes to a third round of balloting.
About the vote: Jordan — or any other GOP speaker candidate — can only afford to lose four Republican votes today if all members are present and voting on the floor.A speaker needs a majority of the full House to be elected. Twenty Republicans voted against Jordan on Tuesday.
If Jordan fails again: Rep. Dave Joyce, an Ohio Republican, is leading the charge on a possible privileged resolution to empower interim Speaker Patrick McHenry if Jordan fails to secure the speakership today.
What's at stake: The House, which has been without a speaker for two weeks after Kevin McCarthy’s historic ouster, remains effectively frozen. It's a dire situation that comes as Congress faces a government funding deadline in mid-November and as crisis unfolds abroad in Ukraine and with Israel’s war against Hamas.
Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Patrick McHenry presides over the House of Representatives as they prepare to vote on a new Speaker of the House at the US Capitol Building on October 17 in Washington, DC. Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Republicans are discussing bringing forward a resolution to empower interim Speaker Patrick McHenry as soon as this afternoon, two sources tell CNN.
GOP Rep. Dave Joyce is leading the charge on the measure to empower McHenry and could introduce it as a privileged resolution as soon as today, but he said he wants to "see how the vote goes." Joyce, an Ohio Republican, voted for Jordan on the first ballot.
It would come after a potential failed speaker vote for Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan – a second ballot or third ballot – and assuming he withdraws his bid.
If a resolution is introduced on the floor, it would be considered “privileged” meaning it would need to be acted on within two legislative days.
The resolution to empower McHenry would need Democratic support since many Republicans oppose the idea.
The move could give Democrats an opportunity to seek some concessions from Republicans in exchange for their votes.
Democrats have been floating three things they'd want in exchange including:
Bringing a spending package to the floor that funds government at the levels agreed to between Biden and McCarthy in May
A promise to put Ukraine and Israel aid on the floor
Assurances members could have more power to bring legislation to the floor if the majority backs it
The last ask would be a hard sell for the Republican majority.
The members behind this effort to empower McHenry have reached a breaking point.
It's been two weeks without a speaker, 10 days since an attack on Israel and just one month until another funding deadline looms. No one seems to be able to garner the support to become speaker with just GOP votes and the conference is bitterly divided. In other words, many members view this path as the only viable way forward even if it is just a temporary solution.
A Republican House member opposed to Rep. Jim Jordan told CNN that opposition to his speaker candidacy will grow, especially if it goes to a third round of balloting — with potentially 25 Republicans voting against him. They hope this will convince him to withdraw.
“The opposition is organized. We’re in tight comms, unified, and growing,” the member said.
Jordan fell short of securing the speakership during the first round of voting yesterday with 20 Republicans voting against him. Republicans are discussing bringing forward a resolution to empower interim Speaker Patrick McHenry if Jordan falls short on a second or third ballot today.
Rep. Jim Jordan arrives inside the House Chamber prior to the first vote for a new Speaker of the House at the Capitol in Washington, DC on Tuesday. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Conservative Republican Rep. Jim Jordan called off a second speaker’s vote Tuesday evening while he scrambled behind the scenes to try to win over 20 Republicans who voted against him earlier in the day.
Jordan has scheduled another vote for speaker for 11 a.m. ET Wednesday, where the Ohio Republican and his allies hope to see his support increase even in the face of entrenched opposition.
The level of GOP opposition to Jordan during Tuesday’s speaker’s vote – held exactly two weeks after the House ousted Kevin McCarthy – was a disappointment for Jordan’s allies who had expressed hopes that the number of holdouts would only be in the single digits.
The 20 Republicans who voted against Jordan include House Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger of Texas, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado and a quartet of New York Republicans in purple districts. The anti-Jordan contingent cast six votes for McCarthy, seven votes for Majority Leader Steve Scalise and three for former New York GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin, among other alternatives.
Jordan’s opponents come from several factions. There are centrist Republicans concerned that the face of the House GOP would be a conservative hardliner, as well as lawmakers still furious at the small group of Republicans who forced out McCarthy and then opposed the speaker nomination of Scalise, who initially defeated Jordan inside the GOP conference, 113 to 99. Seven members of the House Appropriations Committee – which has fought Jordan’s opposition to spending bills for years – voted against Jordan.
Jordan can only afford to lose four GOP votes. The House’s slim margin is what led to McCarthy’s removal at the hands of a band of eight GOP rebels – and now a similarly sized group of House Republicans could block Jordan’s ascension, too.
After the first vote, the House recessed and Jordan shuffled between the speaker’s office and the majority whip’s office holding meetings, before Jordan said the next vote would be on Wednesday.
“We’re making progress. I feel good about it. We’re going to keep going,” Jordan said Tuesday afternoon. “I had great conversations, great discussions with our colleagues.”
