Republicans Reject Jim Jordan for House Speaker on First Ballot

Rep. Jim Jordan was rejected by Republicans for House speaker on the first ballot, as holdouts denied him the majority needed to seize the gavel. More voting is expected as Jordan works to shore up support to replace the ousted Kevin McCarthy.

Washington, Oct 17 AP: Republicans rejected Rep. Jim Jordan for House speaker on Tuesday on the first ballot, as holdouts denied the hard-charging ally of Donald Trump the majority needed to seize the gavel. More voting is expected as Jordan works to shore up support to replace the ousted Kevin McCarthy for the job and the leader of the GOPs hard-right flank moves to take a central seat of US power.

The Holdouts

Some 20 reluctant Republicans are refusing to give Jordan their votes, viewing the Ohio congressman as too extreme for the powerful position of House speaker, second in line to the presidency. The holdouts are a mix of pragmatists, ranging from seasoned legislators and committee chairs worried about governing to newer lawmakers from districts where their voters back home prefer President Joe Biden to Trump.

Trump's Support

But with public pressure bearing down on lawmakers from Trump's allies including Fox News Channels Sean Hannity, it's unclear how long the holdouts can last. Jordan swiftly flipped dozens of detractors in a matter of days, shoring up Republicans who have few options left."Jim Jordan will be a great speaker," the former president said outside the courthouse in Manhattan, where he is facing business fraud charges. I think he's going to have the votes soon, if not today, over the next day or two.

The Challenges Ahead

Congress faces daunting challenges, risking a federal shutdown if it fails to fund the government and fielding President Joe Biden's requests for aid to help Ukraine and Israel in the wars abroad. To seize the gavel, Jordan will need almost the full majority of his colleagues behind him in a House floor vote, as Democrats are certain to back their own nominee, Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. With the House Republican majority narrowly held at 221-212, Jordan can afford to lose only a few votes to reach the 217 majority threshold, if there are no further absences.

The Democrats' Response

Democrats have decried the far-right shift, calling Jordan the leader of the chaos wing of the GOP. Democrats have decried the far-right shift, calling Jordan the leader of the chaos wing of the GOP. Jordan has been a top Trump ally, particularly during the January 6 Capitol attack by the former president's backers who were trying to overturn the 2020 election he lost to Biden. Days later, Trump awarded Jordan a Medal of Freedom.

The Path Forward

It could take multiple rounds during House floor voting, not unlike in January when it took McCarthy 15 ballots to win the gavel. Tensions remained high among Republicans ahead of voting. Rank-and-file Republicans are exhausted by the internal party infighting with no other work being done in Congress. Some Republicans resent being pressured by Jordan's allies and say they are being threatened with primary opponents if they don't support him as speaker.

The speakership battle has exposed the deep divisions within the Republican Party, and it remains to be seen whether Jordan can unite the conference and lead them to victory in the 2024 elections. With the Democrats firmly in control of the Senate and the White House, the Republicans will need to find a way to work together if they want to be successful in the next Congress.