WASHINGTON >> Republicans Reject Rep. Jim Jordan for House Speaker, Creating Turmoil
In a surprising turn of events, Republicans have rejected Rep. Jim Jordan as their choice for House speaker. Despite the support of President Donald Trump, Jordan fell short of the GOP majority needed to secure the position. A total of 20 holdouts within the Republican party denied Jordan the votes he needed to take the gavel.
The House is now at a standstill as Jordan works to gather support from his fellow Republicans. However, many reluctant party members are hesitant to back Jordan due to concerns about his extreme views. As the second highest-ranking position in the House and next in line to the presidency, some Republicans view Jordan as ill-suited for the job.
This rejection of Jordan has created two weeks of intense infighting within the Republican party. What was once a routine vote for House speaker has now become a bitter battle for power.
Despite the setback, Jordan remains hopeful for the next round of voting. He believes he can gain more support and improve his chances of becoming speaker.
Currently, the vote count stands at 200 Republicans in favor of Jordan and 212 in favor of Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. With no clear majority, Jordan must win over most of his GOP adversaries to secure the position.
The holdouts consist of a mixture of pragmatic Republicans who have concerns about Jordan’s ability to govern effectively. Some are seasoned legislators and committee chairs who prioritize effective governance, while others are newer lawmakers from districts where voters favored President Joe Biden over Trump.
However, the holdouts may face pressure from Trump’s allies, including Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity. This could sway their votes and potentially lead to Jordan’s victory.
The road to becoming speaker has been challenging for Jordan. Known for his confrontational style and membership in the right-wing Freedom Caucus, he is more of a disruptor than a skilled legislator. This raises questions about his ability to lead in Congress, especially as the nation faces significant challenges.
With the House Republican majority at a narrow margin of 221-212, Jordan can only afford to lose a few votes. However, this is contingent on no further absences.
Jordan immediately consulted with Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who also faced a significant loss in his bid for speaker in January.
During the roll call, several holdouts publicly announced their choice for speaker. Rep. Don Bacon voted for McCarthy, causing murmurs among his colleagues. Others voted for Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the party’s initial choice before hardliners rejected him.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, another Trump ally, delivered the official nominating speech for Jordan, declaring him as the “people’s speaker.”
On the Democratic side, Rep. Pete Aguilar nominated Jeffries and criticized Jordan for voting against various measures, drawing chants from Democrats.
The Republican party is in disarray after McCarthy’s removal and is now witnessing further divisions over the speakership position. All House business has come to a halt.
Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado highlighted Jordan’s role in the lead up to the January 6th Capitol attack and his refusal to acknowledge Biden’s victory as lingering concerns.
Some holdouts softened their stance after the first vote and stated that they would be supporting Jordan in subsequent rounds.
Jordan can rely on Trump’s support and pressure from grassroots activists who are familiar with him through media appearances and fiery committee hearings. Many Republicans believe it will become increasingly difficult for lawmakers to oppose Jordan in a public floor vote.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, who played a significant role in ousting McCarthy, publicly praised each lawmaker who switched their support to Jordan while chastising those who remained opposed.
Democrats have criticized the shift to the far-right, labeling Jordan as the leader of the chaos wing within the GOP.
Jordan has long been a staunch ally of Trump and was awarded the Medal of Freedom after the January 6th Capitol attack. He is now considered the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Tensions continue to run high among Republicans due to the ongoing internal party infighting. Some feel pressured by Jordan’s allies and claim they are being threatened with primary opponents if they do not support him.
Overall, this rejection of Jordan as House speaker has caused division and uncertainty within the Republican party. The future of the speakership remains unclear as both sides prepare for future rounds of voting.
Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Mary Clare Jalonick, and Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.
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