Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) lost the first round of Tuesday’s speaker election after 20 Republicans voted for other candidates, marking only the second time in 100 years the House has failed to elect a speaker in the first round of voting.
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) listens as lawmakers cast their votes during the election for a new ... [+]
Jordan lost the first round of voting, 200-212-20.
All 212 voting Democrats cast their ballots for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).
Six Republicans voted for ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), seven backed Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), three voted for former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), and a handful voted for other lawmakers.
Only Jeffries and Jordan were formally nominated by their respective parties, but members called out the other names during Tuesday’s election, which was conducted by voice vote.
“Jim Jordan is strategic, scrappy, tough and principled. He is a mentor, a worker and above all he is a fighter,” GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) said as she formally nominated Jordan, calling him “a winner on behalf of the American people.”
McCarthy’s election in January was the first since 1923 to extend beyond a single ballot.
The House GOP conference voted Friday to nominate Jordan for speaker after McCarthy was ousted earlier this month in a far-right revolt led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). Jordan, a founder of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump and leader of the various GOP investigations into President Joe Biden, is a controversial figure in the House, but his alliance with the far-right is seen as a asset by some House members who believe he can corral the faction into compliance—a feat McCarthy ultimately failed to accomplish, leading to his demise. Jordan won the nomination 152-55, after Scalise, the GOP’s first nominee, dropped out of the race. Several House Republicans announced plans to support Scalise, after initially opposing him, citing the need to restart legislative business in the House ahead of a November 17 deadline to pass a new budget to avert a government shutdown and amid calls for more funding for Israel in its war with Hamas.
McCarthy earned support from Republican Reps. Don Bacon (Neb.), Lori Chavez-Deremer (Ore.), Carlos Gimemez (Fla.), Mike Lawler (N.Y.), Jen Kiggans (Va.) and Doug LaMalfa (Calif.), even though McCarthy cast his ballot for Jordan. Meanwhile, Scalise got backing from Reps. Mario Diaz Balart (Fla.), Tony Gonzales (Texas), Kay Granger (Texas), Mike Kelly (Pa.), John Rutherford (Fla.), Mike Simpson (Idaho) and Steve Womack (Ark.). New York GOP Reps. Anthony D’Esposito, Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota voted for Zeldin. Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) voted for Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Rep. John James (R-Mich.) voted for Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) voted for Rep. Tom Massie (R-Ky.) and Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-Texas) voted for Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.).
Rep. Jim Jordan Gains Traction In Speaker Bid As Four Holdouts Flip (Forbes)