19-10-2023 (WASHINGTON) In a continuation of the leadership vacuum that has paralyzed Washington for the past 15 days, US lawmakers on Wednesday (Oct 18) rejected hardline conservative Jim Jordan’s bid for speaker of the House of Representatives for a second time.
The lower chamber of Congress has been in disarray since Republican speaker Kevin McCarthy was removed by his party’s far-right faction on Oct 3. This power vacuum has prevented the House from addressing pressing issues such as a potential government shutdown and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Jordan, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, needed to secure the votes of all but four Republican colleagues. However, his second bid for the speakership fell short as 22 Republicans voted against him in the second ballot, two more than the previous day.
The stakes have been raised significantly due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the urgent need for aid to Ukraine, and the imminent threat of a government shutdown. Republicans had hoped that these pressing matters would unite the fractured party and lead to a quick resolution.
However, Jordan’s centrist colleagues, who were already skeptical of his hard-right politics, expressed frustration over the concerted effort to secure additional votes for the 59-year-old former wrestling champion.
“Each day without a speaker of the House poses a national security risk,” said Jordan supporter and California Republican David Valadao. “I voted for the Republican Conference’s nominee for speaker because we must get back to work, and we cannot do that until we have a speaker.”
Jordan’s second defeat has exacerbated concerns over Republican disarray, prompting a growing number of lawmakers, including Valadao, to advocate for expanding the limited powers of the current caretaker speaker, who primarily holds a ceremonial role.
However, Jordan’s spokesman, Russell Dye, made it clear that the congressman has no intention of dropping out of the race. Dye assured reporters that Jordan would “keep going,” with the next round of voting expected to take place on Thursday.
Jordan’s tally of 199 votes marks the first time in a century that the majority party’s nominee has fallen below the 200 mark. While he is expected to make significant improvements in the third round of voting, the lawmakers who oppose him appear resolute in their objections, with some predicting that Jordan will continue to lose support.
Unlike his predecessor, Jordan lacks the widespread support among his party’s rank-and-file members. It is unlikely that he would be granted the same number of voting rounds that Kevin McCarthy needed to secure the speakership.
Party strategists are concerned that Jordan’s lack of progress could result in prolonged deadlock, as there is no obvious alternative candidate who possesses both the support and the profile needed to unite a party that has become synonymous with division and dysfunction.
Online politics outlet Punchbowl News aptly questioned, “Why run for the mayor of a city that’s just been nuked?”
There is growing momentum behind a proposal to formally appoint caretaker speaker Patrick McHenry for a limited period of two or three months, with an expansion of his powers to allow him to bring legislation to the floor.
Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not publicly commit to supporting this move as he headed to a party meeting after voting, although he has not dismissed the idea either.
“We had two objectives coming into this meeting. First objective, to stop Jim Jordan… Second objective is to reopen the House,” he stated.
However, Scott Perry, chairman of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, opposed empowering McHenry, claiming it would perpetuate Washington’s dysfunction.
“I told you – no matter what – I won’t vote for the status quo, and I’m keeping my word,” he posted on X
