Posted on 10/17/2023 11:37:14 AM PDT by Miami Rebel
Representative Jim Jordan fell short of the necessary 217 votes to become the next speaker of the House in the first round of voting on Tuesday, as a significant number of moderates within the Republican caucus refused to fall in line behind the hardline Ohio lawmaker.
While Republicans remain divided on Jordan, the Democrats unanimously backed House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.), just as they did when former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) was elected in January.
At the end of the first round, Jeffries garnered 212 votes while Jordan received 200 and 20 others voted against the latter. Neither received a majority of the votes necessary to secure the speaker’s gavel.
“Who knows what happens next,” Representative Andy Ogles (R., Tenn.) told National Review. “Credit to Jim Jordan for putting his name out there and going through the process. We’ll see what happens next, but I’m cautiously optimistic.”
Tuesday afternoon’s speaker election comes two weeks after McCarthy’s historic ousting from the position.
Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has spent the last several days rallying his fellow Republicans after House majority leader Steve Scalise (R., La.), widely considered the frontrunner to replace McCarthy, dropped out of the speaker race on Thursday. On Friday, Republicans nominated Jordan as their new candidate for the conference to coalesce behind.
“Jim Jordan … is an America First warrior who wins the toughest of fights — going after corruption and delivering accountability at the highest levels of government on behalf of we the people,” Representative Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.) said in the time designated for opening speeches, adding the Republican nominee is a “winner on behalf of the American people.”
Our friend and colleague @Jim_Jordan is a patriot.
He is an America First warrior who wins the toughest of fights – going after corruption and delivering accountability at the highest levels of government on behalf of WE THE PEOPLE. pic.twitter.com/JFTbBs3vbw
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) October 17, 2023
Despite the opposition from within his own party, Jordan flipped many holdouts to his side over the weekend, most notably House Armed Services Committee chairman Mike Rogers (R., Ala.). Representatives Ann Wagner (R., Mo.), Ken Calvert (R., Calif.), Vern Buchanan (R., Fla.), Drew Ferguson (R., Ga.), and others followed closely behind Rogers.
Considering all Democrats were present during the vote, Jordan could only afford to lose three Republicans. Representative Gus Bilirakis (R., Fla.), the only member absent, could not be in attendance due to his mother-in-law’s funeral.
McCarthy was ousted from the speakership by a group of House GOP rebels who objected to the shortterm spending deal he cut with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown. Hamas invaded Israel and slaughtered more than 1,000 civilians just four days later, on October 7. Without a permanent speaker in place, a stalled Congress has been unable to provide a fresh aid package to Israel. The House is expected to consider a package linking Israel and Ukraine aid together once a speaker is elected.
Four House Republicans who spoke with Jordan said he gave assurances on pushing such a package after the chamber resumes its legislative duties, Axios reported Monday. A spokesperson for Jordan said the Ohio congressman did not make any promise of the sort but noted he is determined to find the right approach moving forward.
This week, President Joe Biden is reportedly considering an aid package of well over $2 billion that would be allocated toward Israel’s conflict with Hamas, Ukraine’s war with Russia, and possibly Taiwan as well as the U.S. southern-border crisis. Democrats believe that linking Ukraine and Israel aid will help bring along some House Republicans who would object to a standalone bill increasing aid to Ukraine.
The paralyzed House has also been unable to address legislation pertaining to long-term government funding so far this month. At the end of September, both chambers of Congress passed a temporary continuing resolution that delayed the government-shutdown deadline to November 17, giving lawmakers 45 days to approve a funding bill that would last through fiscal year 2024.
Without a permanent speaker in place, a stalled Congress has been unable to provide a fresh aid package to Israel. The House is expected to consider a package linking Israel and Ukraine aid together once a speaker is elected.
Four House Republicans who spoke with Jordan said he gave assurances on pushing such a package after the chamber resumes its legislative duties, Axios reported Monday. A spokesperson for Jordan said the Ohio congressman did not make any promise of the sort but noted he is determined to find the right approach moving forward.
True Rinos would clearly prefer a Rat Speaker to an America First rep.
Bannon and Kirk have both said this was 100% expected and that anything over 200 in the first round should be a big victory - so I guess this is good news.
In the next round, the 20 hold-outs will receive far more scrutiny - especially those in red states/districts.
Good 👍
If Jordan doesn’t begin to close in on the magic number in the next vote, then I predict some of the Republicans will start defecting to Jeffries.
No they won’t. 😅
Only 14 more votes to the McCarthy.
Been emailing my displeasure to my representative, Jordan, about financial aide for Ukraine going to Wall Street Sovereign Hedge Funds and IMF payments.
Reconstruction moneys are being raised from PRIVATE investors. The objective is to NOT fund it through taxpayer dollars.
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