House Republicans faced another setback on Friday as they abandoned their nominee for Speaker, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), leaving the GOP conference without a clear leader for nearly three weeks. Jordan is the second Speaker nominee to be rejected by House Republicans, following Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), who withdrew his name from the race after facing opposition from Jordan supporters. This comes after eight Republicans and Democrats joined forces to depose Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as Speaker earlier this month. The rejection of Jordan highlights the deep divisions within the GOP conference and leaves them without a clear answer for who will be the next Speaker.
The key question now is whether anyone can gather the necessary 217 votes to secure the Speaker position. With at least nine Republicans already running or considering a bid for Speaker, there is uncertainty about whether the fractious GOP majority can unite behind a candidate. Both Scalise and Jordan won their nominations by narrow margins, and Jordan lost 25 Republican votes on the third ballot. Representative Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) expressed doubt that there are enough votes for any candidate to secure the speakership.
Adding to the urgency is the upcoming Nov. 17 deadline to fund the government, as well as the ongoing wars in Israel and Ukraine. Without a Speaker, the House is unable to conduct legislative business, and the $100 billion emergency funding request from the White House for border security, Israel, and Ukraine has heightened the pressure on Republicans to coalesce around a leader. Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) has been proposed to be given more power to move legislation, but this option was rejected by the House GOP. As the deadline looms, Republicans face the challenge of coming together to address these pressing issues.
The rancor within the GOP conference is palpable, with anger felt on all sides. Scalise supporters are frustrated that their candidate was forced to withdraw, while Jordan backers are incensed at his rejection. Lingering anger also remains towards the eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy as Speaker, which has contributed to the current state of disarray. During a closed-door conference meeting, McCarthy scolded Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for interrupting him, and referred to the group of eight as “the crazy eight.” In response, the Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy wrote a letter to their colleagues offering to accept punishments if it meant unity around Jordan. Unfortunately, Republicans voted to drop Jordan before seriously considering the letter.
The pressure campaign deployed by Jordan allies to convince undecided Republicans to support him appears to have backfired. Instead of swaying votes, opposition to Jordan increased over the three ballots. Some holdouts reported receiving threats, which raised concerns about the heated atmosphere on Capitol Hill. In the end, it was the secret ballot that allowed Republicans to voice their opposition to Jordan without fear of backlash. Representative Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) believes that the secret ballot played a significant role in Jordan’s rejection.
Despite being rejected as Speaker, Jordan will continue to be a prominent figure in Congress as the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. As the panel investigates matters such as the prosecution of Hunter Biden and former President Trump, as well as the management of policies on the U.S.-Mexico border, Jordan will remain actively involved. If the House GOP proceeds with an impeachment inquiry into President Biden over his family’s foreign business dealings, Jordan would likely play a major role in it.
As House Republicans navigate this tumultuous period, the divisions within their conference, the approaching government funding deadline, and the ongoing international conflicts add more urgency to their search for a new Speaker. Whether they can find a candidate who can garner enough support remains to be seen.