Staff Reports
The race for the next Speaker of the House is not looking good for Jim Jordan. In the second vote, Jordan fell short of the 217 votes needed to secure the position, with twenty members of the GOP conference voting for other Republicans. Former speaker Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise both received votes, but they don’t seem interested in helping Jordan succeed. It’s an uphill battle for Jordan to reach the 217 votes needed, especially with fierce opposition from members like Rep. Victoria Spartz.
Jim Jordan May Not Become the Next Speaker, So What's Next?https://t.co/eubiRzivr6
— RedState (@RedState) October 18, 2023
Despite Jordan’s attempts to sway dissenters, there are some GOP members who voted for him in the first ballot but may switch their support on the second ballot. Reps. David Joyce, Ann Wagner, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Beth Van Duyne, and Drew Ferguson are some of the lawmakers to watch. With surprises in the previous vote, it’s expected that more lawmakers could change their minds.
Although Jordan picked up one vote overnight from Rep. Doug LaMalfa and has the support of Rep. Gus Bilirakis, it still seems unlikely that he will reach the required 217 votes. Jordan’s team is willing to go through multiple ballots, but this prolonged fight could leave the GOP conference even more divided and damaged.
As House Republicans search for a leader, names like Rep. Tom Emmer are being mentioned as potential candidates. However, with a divided conference, anyone running for speaker is likely to face defeat. Some lawmakers are even considering empowering Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry to oversee legislation until a speaker is elected. This unconventional solution could be a temporary fix to the leadership crisis.
In the end, the GOP is in desperate need of a leader, but it seems like a daunting task to find someone who can garner the necessary support. The fractured and ugly fight for the speaker position is leaving the party battered and bruised. The House Republicans convene today, but it remains to be seen if they can come to an agreement and elect a new speaker.
