UPDATE: Back to square one: Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) is no longer in the running for Speaker of the House. Despite his efforts, Jordan fell short in roll call votes this week and lost even more ground in a third ballot on Friday. In response, Jordan expressed the need for unity among Republicans in selecting a new speaker. However, with members leaving for the weekend, the selection process will resume next week with a candidate forum on Monday night and conference elections on Tuesday morning. This setback has forced Republicans to go back to the drawing board, as they search for a new nominee. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who was previously ousted as speaker, acknowledged the challenges the party faces, stating, “What history will look at, the crazy eights, led by [Matt] Gaetz, the amount of damage they have done to this party and this country, is insurmountable. … We are in a very bad position as a party.”
With no speaker in place, the House’s legislative business has come to a halt. This means that no legislation can pass Congress, including important aid packages for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and border security. The absence of a speaker has significant implications for the functioning of the legislative branch.
Jordan’s unsuccessful bid for speaker marks the second time the Republican conference has had to select a nominee since McCarthy’s removal. Initially, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) was nominated but withdrew when it became clear he would not win in a floor vote. Jordan, the runner-up to Scalise, was then chosen but also failed to secure enough support. In the recent roll call vote, 25 House Republicans voted against Jordan, with some citing pressure campaigns from right-wing media and social media. Some members even reported receiving death threats and harassment for withholding their support. Following the vote, Republicans held a closed-door conference meeting where they voted on whether Jordan should continue. The majority voted against him, further solidifying his defeat.
Jordan’s potential speakership would have pushed the Republican conference further to the right compared to McCarthy. Throughout his career, Jordan has been known for his confrontational approach and attacks on the establishment. He was also a significant figure in former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, as highlighted in the January 6th Committee’s report. Despite criticism, Jordan has refused to back away from his claims of election fraud.
The absence of a speaker has created a challenging situation for the House, as it hinders legislative progress. Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), have expressed their willingness to work with Republicans on a bipartisan compromise. However, the ongoing discord within the Republican conference has made it difficult to find a resolution.
PREVIOUSLY, 9:07 a.m. PT: Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) faced further setbacks in his bid for the speakership, as he failed to gain support from the Republican holdouts. The vote resulted in 210 votes for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and 194 for Jordan, falling short of the 215 votes needed to become speaker. The prolonged absence of a speaker has led to a non-functioning House of Representatives and legislative branch. The acrimony and tension within the Republican conference have intensified throughout the week, with reports of death threats and harassment targeting those opposed to Jordan’s candidacy. Despite the challenges, Jordan remains determined to continue his campaign.
The ongoing impasse has created a clear divide between institutionalists and Trump populists within the Republican party. The situation has reached a point where members are shouting at each other during meetings, reflecting the deep divisions within the conference. The search for a new speaker continues, with uncertainty surrounding the path forward.