UPDATE: Before a vote on empowering Rep. Patrick McHenry could be held, negotiations over the resolution apparently collapsed. Rep. Jim Jordan has announced that he will remain in the running and seek a third vote after further discussion with the holdouts in the Republican Party.
Jim Jordan isn't going down without a fight:
"I'm still running for speaker. I plan to go to the floor and get the votes." pic.twitter.com/WjZsM4w55z
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) October 19, 2023
Following this development, the Speaker selection process has effectively returned to square one with no progress made.
Republicans in the House of Representatives are preparing for a vote to grant expanded authority to Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC) in an effort to resume legislative business. The move comes after nominee Jim Jordan (R-OH) failed for a second time to gather the required votes to take up the Speaker’s gavel on Wednesday.
Rep. Jordan’s second attempt to win the vacant speakership, much like his first try on Tuesday, resulted in a failure to secure the 217-vote majority. His initial bid saw 20 Republican holdouts vote against him, leaving him with just 200 votes. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), a Jordan supporter, was absent for the Tuesday vote but returned to Congress on Wednesday. While two of the original 20 holdouts voted for Jordan in the next round, an additional four defectors dropped their support, leaving him with just 199 votes in his favor.
During both rounds, House Democrats remained in lockstep behind Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who pulled in all 212 of his party’s votes. Despite beating Jordan twice, the narrow Republican majority (222-212) kept Jeffries from becoming Speaker. Jeffries has continued to push for a “bipartisan path forward” and accused Republicans of bringing House business to a standstill.
Learn the benefits of becoming a Valuetainment Member and subscribe today!
With the House still Speaker-less almost three weeks after the ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the legislative body has been unable to vote on a number of high-priority bills, including a full budget resolution and aid packages for Israel and Ukraine. Rep. McHenry has reluctantly filled the role after being appointed as McCarthy’s temporary successor, but House rules prevent a Speaker Pro Tempore from doing anything other than supervising debate/vote over appointing a new Speaker.
However, given the seeming impossibility of forming a majority coalition within the Republican Party, some GOP members—including Rep. Jordan—are backing a vote to expand McHenry’s authority and allow him to retain the position until January.
McHenry, who has repeatedly stated that he never wanted to be Speaker even temporarily, began Thursday’s session by stating that his goal for the day “is to get Jim Jordan elected speaker.”
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.
Add comment