Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan announced his support for North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry as the House’s temporary speaker, aiming to advance legislation amidst the GOP’s struggle to determine its new leader.
Jordan, who was President Trump’s choice for speaker but has failed to secure the post twice, made this announcement to his Republican caucus on Thursday. Jordan will continue to be the party’s nominee for speaker, allowing him to gain support privately while McHenry temporarily assumes the role.
Empowering McHenry would be an ironic twist for former speaker (R-Bakersfield).
A group of rebellious Republicans, along with Democrats, voted to remove McCarthy from the speaker’s chair on October 3. Prior to his removal, McCarthy had selected McHenry as speaker pro tempore. However, in the two weeks following McCarthy’s defeat, none of the Republicans vying to replace him were able to secure the necessary majority, leading to McHenry’s potential control over the House in the interim.
When asked about the plan, McHenry declined to comment, stating, “We’re having an active and vigorous conversation.”
By empowering McHenry, Republicans hope to address urgent issues such as providing additional aid to Israel in light of the Gaza strip conflict, military aid for the war in Ukraine, and delaying a government shutdown.
This move to empower McHenry raises questions about the interpretation of House rules, as the scope of authority granted to the speaker pro tempore is contested.
“What the powers are of the speaker pro tem is contested,” said Molly Reynolds, a congressional expert at the Brookings Institution. “We’re in uncharted, unprecedented territory here, and there are a number of different views.”
Matthew Glassman, a senior fellow at the Georgetown University Government Affairs Institute, emphasized that lawmakers have the discretion to make decisions, stating, “The House is always in control of its own rules …. If push comes to shove,” and they can’t get a Speaker elected, “the House can change its own rules and do what it wants.”
During his temporary role, McHenry has demonstrated authority beyond his initial mandate, exercising powers such as recessing the House and displacing Democratic Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer from their offices.
The plan to empower McHenry has received support from both parties, with some Republicans who oppose Jordan expressing willingness to back McHenry.
However, other Republicans remain skeptical. Indiana Rep. Jim Banks referred to the plan as “the biggest FU to Republican voters I’ve ever seen.”
While House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has expressed openness to a temporary bipartisan solution, he has not formally indicated his party’s stance on empowering McHenry.
The move to empower a temporary speaker follows weeks of internal strife among Republicans. After McCarthy’s removal, Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise was nominated as his replacement, but withdrew from the contest due to inadequate support. Jordan then became the party’s nominee but failed to secure the necessary votes in two floor votes, with 20 Republicans blocking his bid in the first vote and the number growing to 22 in the second vote. It is likely that more GOP lawmakers would defect in a potential third vote, as Jordan’s support on the second vote was the lowest for a majority party’s nominee for speaker in modern times.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
