Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) bowed out of the race to be speaker of the House on Friday after failing on the third ballot, clearing the way for new candidates to take their shot at the gavel next week.
The House Judiciary Committee chairman and founding member of the Freedom Caucus struggled to win over moderates in his last bid for speaker, winning just 194 votes from his colleagues on the House floor before hanging up his run hours later.
Potential successors fill the vacancy soon, with Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and Reps. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) and Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) threw their hats in the ring.
Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), who lost a conference vote to Jordan last week, also renewed his bid for speaker, while Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who got two votes on the House floor. Friday morning, also put his name on the list.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) bowed out of the speaker’s race on Friday after failing on the previous three ballots, clearing the way for a new House GOP candidate to pick up the gavel next week. AP’s replacement filled the void left by Jordan soon after, with House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) throwing his hat in the ring (top left).Getty Images
Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) will also seek his conference’s endorsement for the speakership on Monday, his office told The Post.
The 25 groups opposing Jordan cited concerns about continued government funding, intimidation tactics by some of his supporters and bad blood between him and an ally of Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), among other things.
The Louisiana Republican had won enough votes to be nominated for speaker last week in a closed conference meeting but withdrew from consideration before a floor vote could be taken.
The 25 groups opposed to Jordan cited bloodshed between Jordan and allies of Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), among other reasons for the failed vote.Shutterstock
“When Steve Scalise beat him in a head-to-head election, he disagreed with the outcome of that election,” Rep. Florida’s John Rutherford told The Post of Jordan following Friday’s floor vote and before the Ohioan withdrew.
“He needs to get out of the way, stop obstructing so we can find who the next candidate for speaker is,” Rutherford said.
Scalise enjoyed the largest support among dissenting members in Friday’s vote, as eight dissenting members supported him. Another six were chosen for Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry (R-NC), four for 2022 New York gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin.
Ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who nominated Jordan on the third ballot, also picked up two votes following his elimination on Oct. 3.Getty Images
Rep. Suffolk County’s Nick LaLota said he had discussions with Jordan about Zeldin after he voted twice for the former Long Island congressman on each ballot.
“We are not there. I don’t think we’ll get there anytime soon. But there is a professional dialogue,” he said after endorsing Zeldin for the third time, along with three other New York Republicans.
LaLota cited federal budget concerns as well as Jordan’s previous vote against state and local tax cuts and the World Trade Center Health program.
House Republicans voted 112-86 to reject Jordan as their speaker appointee in another secret ballot Friday afternoon, sources told The Post, and chose to take the process up on Monday.Rod Lamkey / CNP / SplashNews.com
Donalds and ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who nominated Jordan on the third ballot, also received two votes each.
The other three votes went to Emmer, Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.) and Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.).
All 210 Democrats supported Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) for the speaker’s seat, with Representatives Donald Payne (D-NJ) and Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) absent.
Photos emerged of members handling the resolution to remove McHenry during floor discussion.AP
House Republicans voted 112-86 to reject Jordan as their designated speaker in another secret ballot Friday afternoon, sources told The Post, and chose to take the process up Monday at 6:30 p.m. with another conference session.
“I appreciate the opportunity to work with everybody, talk to everybody,” Jordan told reporters after losing the secret ballot. “I know a member of our conference that I haven’t really known for the past three weeks.”
“It’s fair to say that Leader Scalise was not given enough time, he had 24 hours to campaign,” McHenry said in a brief speech to the press.
Seven of the Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy including Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz (above) circulated a letter putting their positions in the conference in line to fight for Jordan.Getty Images
“Our candidate Jordan was given a little more time — not good for him, [and the] the conference decided that we will move forward with a new speaker, not today,” he added.
“It is my aim to speak to you at this time next Friday as chairman of the Financial Services Committee,” the acting speaker insisted.
Several GOP lawmakers had floated a resolution to remove McHenry during preliminary discussions on the floor, when photos of members handling the document appeared to be authored by current Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry (R-Pa.).
“I saw Steve Scalise fall and that day five people said they refused to support him. That was the starting point for me,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said of his vote against Jordan.AP
None of the members signed the resolution, but seven of the Republicans voted to remove McCarthy Oct. 3. circulated a separate letter placing their committee assignments and also positions in the conference in line to fight for Jordan.
During the third round of voting, some representatives who had supported McCarthy on the first and second ballots switched to McHenry, signaling their disappointment with the speaker’s removal earlier this month.
“Whoever controls the majority, we should be left behind,” said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.). “We’ve been doing it for 230-plus years, and we’re throwing it away this January. And there is a lot of baggage with that. A lot of anger arose over that.”
“They will get their way by not following the rules. You can’t do that,” said Bacon.AP
“I saw Steve Scalise fall and that day five people said they refused to support him. That was an important point for me,” he continued. “I’m tired of people walking around us.”
“They will get their way by not following the rules. You can’t do that,” Bacon said. “There should be consequences – you vote against the majority of the majority on the floor, you may lose your committee, or your seniority, we can debate what will happen.”
McHenry, in a rare statement to the press after the vote, explained why when he took the gavel he refused to call any legislation for the time being.
McHenry in a rare statement to the press after the vote explained why when he took the gavel he refused to pass any legislation for the time being.AP
“I made it clear to Republicans yesterday that any move to go beyond that I will not support,” McHenry said, adding that he was guided in the decision by “nonpartisan lawmakers” who have overseen Congress for 50 years.
“That is very important to me, and I will not take a temporary position and undermine this institution,” he said. “I fought hard to make sure neither side could do that.”
He later joked with reporters that the resolution to remove him from his acting role was “fantastic.”
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