Representative Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) lost more support in his third bid for the Speakership of the House on Friday. A total of 194 lawmakers voted for Jordan, short of the 214 votes needed to win the majority. Jordan received 200 votes and then 199 votes in the first two ballots this week.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who is the nominee for the Democrats, got 210 votes on Friday after getting 212 votes in the first two ballots.
Before the third vote, Jordan indicated he would stay in the race for the long haul. “Our plan this weekend is to get a speaker elected to the House of Representatives as soon as possible so we can help the American people,” he said.
The third ballot took place after a bid to temporarily empower Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC) failed to move ahead. A meeting between Jordan and some GOP holdouts ended with members saying they would not change their vote against Jordan.
Jordan’s defeat is a major setback for the far-right wing of the Republican Party, which had hoped to see Jordan become the first Speaker from the Freedom Caucus. Jordan is a close ally of former President Donald Trump, and he has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.
The holdouts in the third ballot included: House Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) and Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Ken Buck (R-CO), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Drew Ferguson (R-GA), Fitzpatrick, Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Tony Gonzales (R-TX), John James (R-MI), Kean, Mike Kelly (R-PA), Jenn Kiggans (R-VA), Nick LaLota (R-NY), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Molinaro, John Rutherford (R-FL), Mike Simpson (R-ID), Pete Stauber (R-MN), and Steve Womack (R-AR).
After the major loss, by secret ballow, the House Republican Conference voted to REMOVE Jim Jordan from Speaker consideration.
The House Republican Conference just voted to REMOVE Jim Jordan from Speaker consideration via a secret ballot.
Jim Jordan is NO LONGER the Speaker Designate.
The will of the American people has been ignored.
The GOP will pay dearly for this. pic.twitter.com/HXlO3wmHKO
— Joey Mannarino (@JoeyMannarinoUS) October 20, 2023
