Title: Anonymous Texts Threaten Republican Holdout’s Family as House Speaker Vote Remains Deadlocked
Subtitle: Rep. Jim Jordan’s bid for House Speaker faces obstacles as tensions rise within the GOP
By Stephen M. Lepore
For Dailymail.com
The House of Representatives continues its 15th day without a House Speaker, as the Republican Party remains divided over Rep. Jim Jordan’s bid for the position. In a surprising twist, the wife of a Republican holdout has come forward, revealing anonymous text messages threatening her husband to back Jordan or face severe consequences.
Don Bacon, a Republican representative from North Carolina, has been one of the most notorious holdouts in the GOP’s refusal to support Jordan’s bid for Speaker of the House. Bacon’s wife, Angie, received multiple anonymous emails and texts demanding her husband’s support for Jordan. Some messages warned that her husband would never hold political office again and labeled him a disappointment and failure.
Bacon responded to the anonymous threats, criticizing the senders for hiding behind anonymity. He defended his husband’s decision, stating that he has more courage than those who resort to such tactics. The rise in pressure on Republican representatives to support Jordan has caused concern within the party, with some fearing it may backfire and harm Jordan’s chances.
Following the failed vote, Jordan met with Majority Leader Steve Scalise to discuss strategies to secure moderate votes. However, Scalise did not commit to helping Jordan in his bid for Speaker. The continued deadlock in electing a House Speaker has put the Republican Party in a difficult position, with legislative priorities on hold and potential government funding issues looming.
During the voting process, Bacon attracted attention when he cast his vote for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy instead of Jordan. Fox News presenter Brian Kilmeade, caught on a hot mic, vented his frustration by calling Bacon a “dumbass” on live television. Jordan’s bid for House Speaker suffered a blow as multiple Republican representatives defected and voted for McCarthy, Scalise, and other candidates not included on the speaker ballot.
As Jordan contemplates his next move, it remains unclear if he will immediately request a second ballot or attempt to persuade the defectors to support him. The growing dysfunction within the GOP has alarmed party members, who worry that the situation may worsen in subsequent rounds of voting.
Jordan’s failure to secure the necessary votes underscores the divisions within the Republican Party, leaving the House without a clear leader to address pressing issues. With Congress paralyzed and legislative progress at a standstill, urgent matters such as providing aid to Israel after a devastating Hamas attack remain unresolved.
Jordan’s appeal to the far-right base and endorsement from former President Donald Trump initially positioned him as a frontrunner. However, his inability to rally enough support within the party has raised questions about his leadership capabilities.
The search for a House Speaker continues as Republicans grapple with internal disagreements and the mounting pressure to select a candidate who can unite the party and effectively lead the House of Representatives.