It has been a very, very tough week for Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, who is currently campaigning to be the next Speaker of the House. Things are not going well for him at all. He failed to bring in the 217 votes he needs for a simple majority victory to be named to the position in the first ballot on Tuesday, with 20 House Republicans voting against him. Well, the second vote was taken on Wednesday and he failed again. This time, however, two additional members of the GOP voted against him.
Is it possible this might be the end for Jordan’s attempt at cinching the speakership? If so, what does this say about former President Donald Trump’s pull with the Republican Party, since he endorsed him for the position? With the losses Trump had concerning candidates he chose to back in what was supposed to be a red wave in 2022, this might not bode well for the future of Trump’s presidential aspirations.
A total of 22 Republicans said “no way” to Jordan, along with all 212 Democrats in the House. This marks the 16th day in a row the House of Representatives has gone without a leader, leaving Congress unable to issue a response to the vicious terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel. It also prevents them from coming up with a plan that will avoid a government shutdown, which could potentially happen in one month’s time unless some form of action is taken.
Here are more details provided by Newsmax:
Jordan’s vote total of 199 was less than the 200 Republican votes he secured on Tuesday. Republicans who control the chamber by a narrow 221-212 majority have been unable to unite behind a speaker candidate since a small faction of them ousted Kevin McCarthy on Oct. 3.
It was not immediately clear whether Jordan would mount a third attempt or clear the way for a fallback option that would give increased power to Rep. Patrick McHenry, who has been temporarily filling the speaker’s chair.
The idea has been floated by Republicans and Democrats, as well as two former Republican speakers, Newt Gingrich and John Boehner.
I’d like to say a big, fat no to John Boehner. That man is as squishy as they come. If the MAGA crowd thought McCarthy was spineless, perhaps they have already forgotten that “compromise” was Boehner’s middle name.
“We’ve got to decide today,” Jordan said to members of the press before the vote. “Both questions should be called. Let’s get an answer. We’ve been at this two weeks. The American people deserve to have their government functioning.”
One of the proposals that has been submitted by GOP Rep. Mike Kelly would name McHenry as a temporary speaker until Nov. 17 or until the chamber was able to come to an agreement on a permanent replacement.
Concerning Jordan’s potential as a speaker, Republican Tom Cole said, “I don’t think anybody in here on any issue of any substance would have to guess where Jim Jordan is going to stand. He doesn’t deceive. He doesn’t dissemble. He simply tells you straight up.”
However, there have been a variety of reasons offered up by Republicans for their rejection of Jordan’s bid for the Speaker position, which includes his positions on taxes, spending and disaster aid, and several others.
"*" indicates required fields
