Oct. 18 (UPI) — House Republicans failed to elect a new speaker in the second round of voting on Wednesday as Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, fared worse than he did in the first round the day before.
When the House floor session was gaveled into order at about 11 a.m. EDT, Jordan could only afford four Republicans voting against him to ascend to the speaker’s chair.
Shortly into the roll call vote, five Republicans voted for other members, including Reps. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Steve Scalise, R-La. Former House Speaker John Boehner also received a vote.
Jordan received 199 votes on Wednesday, one less than he received on Tuesday. This is despite one more Republican voting.
To be elected speaker, a candidate must earn 217 votes to secure a majority. Twenty Republicans voted against Jordan on Tuesday.
“We must stop attacking each other and come together. There’s too much at stake,” Jordan tweeted on Tuesday. “Let’s get back to working on the crisis at the southern border, inflation, and helping Israel.”
Reps. Don Bacon, Mario Diaz Balart, R-Fla., Jake Ellzey, R-Texas, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., and Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., were the first Republicans to vote against Jordan on Wednesday. Members may change their votes up until the gavel drops on the issue.
Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., nominated Jordan for the second round of voting Wednesday. He called Jordan the “No. 1 champion” on border security and said he has a long-term plan to combat federal debt.
“Unlike any other speaker we’ve had, he’s had the courage to talk about a long-term plan and to get the real drivers of debt,” Cole said. “And we all know what they are. We all know it’s Social Security. We all know it’s Medicare. We all know it’s Medicaid.”
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has earned all 212 votes from Democrats, surpassing Jordan’s total in both rounds. Yet it is unlikely that he will be elected speaker as it would require several Republicans to vote with Democrats.
He was again nominated by Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif. Aguilar called Jordan’s ability to govern into question for a second consecutive day, noting that he has never had a bill advance to committee, the first step in the legislative process.
“The Speaker of the House must be a legislator and the gentleman from Ohio falls short in that regard,” Aguilar said.
Notable holdouts in the Republican conference in the first round included Reps. Ken Buck, R-Colo. and Carlos Giménez, R-Fla. Buck and Gimenez have indicated that they will not be swayed to vote for Jordan.
“His tactics certainly didn’t work on me,” Gimenez said. “Actually, I became more cemented in my position. He should have left me to my own devices. Now by being threatened, by being pushed — I’m Hispanic. I’m a Cuban. You just don’t do that to us.”
On Monday evening, Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., introduced a resolution to expand the powers of Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., until at least Nov. 17. This would allow the House to debate actions to avert the impending government shutdown by keeping operations funded. The House speaker position has been vacant for 14 days.
“This is why I introduced House Resolution 787 Monday night — to allow for Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry to have expanded powers as we debate who should be our next Speaker while we continue the People’s work,” Kelly tweeted in response to former speakers Boehner and Newt Gingrich supporting the idea. “Glad to see two former Speakers support the same plan!”
When asked about the growing discussion about McHenry, Jeffries said there are several Republicans that Democrats respect.
“Our focus right now relates not just to any one individual but to getting the institution reopened,” Jeffries said. “I have respect for Patrick McHenry. I think he is respected on our side of the aisle. There are a whole host of Republicans that are respected on our side of the aisle. Jim Jordan is not one of them.”
Jeffries has reiterated that the Democratic conference is seeking a “bipartisan path forward.” Some in the conference have suggested that path is empowering McHenry so the House can move forward with legislative business. He said Tuesday that high-ranking Democrats were prepared to have conversations with McHenry but he was not planning to take part in them.