Jim Jordan Unsuccessful in Second Attempt to Secure House Speaker Role as Republicans Explore Alternatives

On Wednesday, Representative Jim Jordan, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, faced another defeat in his bid to become the Speaker of the House. His loss deepened the divisions among GOP colleagues, many of whom remain unwilling to grant him the leadership role.

As Republicans grapple with internal dissension, a bipartisan set of legislators has proposed an unconventional solution: augmenting the authority of the interim Speaker pro-tempore, Representative Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, to temporarily oversee routine operations and unlock the legislative stalemate in the House.

Jordan’s chances of attaining the Speaker position appear increasingly remote. He faced opposition from 22 Republicans in the latest vote, marking an increase of two dissenting votes compared to the initial round of voting.

In the aftermath of the vote, Jordan, a co-founder of the conservative Freedom Caucus, pledged to continue his campaign. “We have gained some ground, while losing a bit as well. We will continue discussions with our colleagues and persist in our efforts,” he stated.

Further Readings on House Speaker Vote

• Jim Jordan Loses Initial Speaker Ballot: What Happens Next
• GOP Rejects Jim Jordan in First Speaker Ballot, Signaling Continued Discord
• Jim Jordan’s Rise Fueled by Trump and Far-Right Circles: Is the Speaker Role Within Reach?

In a state of inertia for 15 days, the House has been without a Speaker—a position second only to the President in the line of succession—since the abrupt departure of Kevin McCarthy. The turmoil has led to a weary and frustrated Republican caucus, transforming what was once a procedural formality into another contentious fight for leadership.

Prior to the latest vote, Jordan, who also chairs the Judiciary Committee, appealed for party cohesion. “We have been stalled for two weeks,” he said, effectively challenging his colleagues to propose an alternative course of action. “The American public deserves a functioning government.”

Despite gaining three new supporters during the voting process, Jordan faced increasing resistance, losing more votes than he secured.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York commented on the disarray within the Republican ranks after their initial failure to select Jordan. “The Republicans are currently dysfunctional,” he stated, suggesting that bipartisan negotiations to find an alternative would intensify.

Holding a majority in the House with a 221-212 advantage, the Republican Party is in a position where Jordan would need to win over most of his GOP critics to secure the role. Wednesday’s vote saw 199 Republicans siding with Jordan, and 212 voting for Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. With 22 Republicans voting for other candidates, no one emerged with a decisive majority.

Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida, a newfound critic of Jordan, summarized his vote by stating, “It’s time to move on.”

In a unique move, two former GOP Speakers, Newt Gingrich and John Boehner, have indicated support for the proposal to increase the interim Speaker’s authority. Both have expressed skepticism about Jordan’s ability to garner sufficient votes, given that he has plateaued around the 200-vote mark.

The intraparty strife comes as Congress faces imminent challenges, including potential government shutdowns and international crises requiring legislative attention.

First elected in 2006, Jordan has a limited legislative record and is also contending with questions regarding allegations from his past as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University—claims he has vehemently denied.

Contributions to this report were made by Kevin Freking and Mary Clare Jalonick of Big Big News.

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More about House Speaker Vote

• Jim Jordan’s Second Bid for House Speaker Fails
• Interim Speaker Patrick McHenry Proposed for Increased Authority
• The Departure of Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy
• Newt Gingrich and John Boehner Weigh in on Speaker Vote
• Hakeem Jeffries and the Democratic Position on House Speaker
• The Freedom Caucus and its Influence
• Controversial Allegations Against Jim Jordan
• The State of the Republican Caucus
• Previous House Speaker Votes and Historical Context
• Impending Challenges Facing the U.S. Congress