Rep. Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio, Faces Uphill Battle for House Speakership
Rep. Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, is facing resistance from at least 10 to 20 Republican members who oppose his nomination for the House speakership, according to CBS News. Over the weekend, six key House Republicans and more than a dozen sources familiar with the deliberations revealed this information in background conversations.
“While Jordan’s support has grown incrementally in recent days, it remains soft,” said one of the House Republicans. Another stated that about a dozen Republicans are unwilling to support Jordan due to frustrations over how Rep. Steve Scalise, Republican of Louisiana, was treated during his speaker bid and their anger over the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. They also express concerns about Jordan’s ability to handle the challenges facing Congress in the coming months.
Despite these obstacles, Jordan’s confidants remain optimistic that he can secure the necessary 217 votes during the House vote scheduled for Tuesday. To gain support, Jordan has been relying on right-wing groups he has long backed, as well as allies close to former President Donald Trump. Activists like Amy Kremer have also been enlisted to win over undecided members. However, it remains unclear if Trump will provide significant and helpful support to Jordan.
Some Trump allies, including former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, believe Jordan made a strategic mistake by not bringing a vote to the floor last week. Recent calls from the right urge Jordan to go to the floor this week to expose his critics in front of a national audience. Jordan’s allies claim he did not go to the floor last week because he wanted more time to meet with members.
In an attempt to rally GOP members on Monday night, Jordan is scheduled to speak during the House Republicans’ meeting. However, internal GOP questions are mounting, not only about Jordan’s character and abilities but also about how he would handle supplemental requests from the Biden administration on aid for Israel and Ukraine. Concerns remain among longtime appropriators and hawks about Jordan’s ability to address these issues.
If Jordan fails to secure enough support by Tuesday’s vote, some key skeptics and veteran Republicans are considering a bipartisan deal that would expand the authority of Rep. Patrick McHenry, a Republican from North Carolina, in his role as speaker pro tempore. McHenry is also seen as a possible alternative to win the speakership outright. Additionally, names like Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana, and Rep. Jodey Arrington of Texas have been mentioned as backup options for speaker.
The race for the House speakership remains uncertain, with multiple potential outcomes and candidates. Tuesday’s vote will determine whether Rep. Jim Jordan can overcome the opposition and secure the position.