Jordan Fails to Secure Speakership on First Ballot

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) (C) talks with fellow lawmakers as the House meets to elect a new speaker at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Oct. 17, 2023. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Two weeks after Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) historic ouster as speaker, the House is set to vote today to find a replacement.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is looking to secure 217 votes from fellow Republicans needed for him to win the gavel. The Trump-endorsed candidate has picked up some endorsements from holdouts, but whether he has enough to take the speakership remains to be seen. In January, Mr. McCarthy won the gavel after 15 ballot rounds over four days.

Mr. Jordan became speaker-designate after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) dropped out when it became apparent he couldn’t win enough votes.

Next Vote on Wednesday–5:25 p.m.

There will be no more votes tonight and the House will reconvene at 11 a.m. on Oct. 18 for the second round of ballots for the speaker, according to a notice sent by Majority Whip Tom Emmer.

GOP Congressman Compares Speaker Impasse to Kindergarten–4:04 p.m.

Talking to reporters, Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) compared the House not having a speaker for two weeks to “kindergarten” and called the mess “a shame.”

Rep. Díaz-Balart Still a No on Jordan–3:40 p.m.

Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla.) said he is still against Mr. Jordan being speaker even though he said the two have a good relationship. He said the reasons for his opposition were that it was just eight Republicans that joined all Democrats in stripping Mr. McCarthy of the gavel and too many in the House GOP refusing the respect the will of the entire conference when it came to Mr. Scalise being the speaker-designate.

Rep. Buck Refuses to Budge–3:28 p.m.

Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), who voted against Mr. Jordan, told NTD, The Epoch Times’ sister media outlet, that under no circumstances would he vote for the Ohio congressman. Mr Buck said he wants a speaker who supports U.S. assistance to Ukraine and acknowledges that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election.

Expect Another Round of Voting, Per Jordan’s Office – 3:07 p.m.

“The House needs a speaker as soon as possible,” Russell Dye, Jordan’s spokesperson, told reporters. “Expect another round of votes today. It’s time for Republicans to come together.”

GOP Congressman Would Flip to Jordan on Second Ballot–2:16 p.m.

Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), who voted for Mr. McCarthy on the first ballot, told reporters after the vote that he would support Mr. Jordan on a second ballot.

House in Recess–1:56 p.m.

The House is in recess subject to the call of Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), the speaker pro tempore. Whether there will be a second ballot for Mr. Jordan is to be determined.

Jordan Fails to Win Gavel on 1st Ballot–1:43 p.m.

Mr. Jordan lost 20 Republicans on the first ballot. He could only afford to lose five Republicans given the GOP absences. A second ballot is expected to be taken. Mr. Jordan got 200 and Mr. Jeffries got 212.

The Republicans who voted against Mr. Jordan were: Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.), Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), Anthony D'Esposito (R-N.Y.), Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), Kay Granger (R-Texas), Jake Ellzey (R-Texas), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla.), Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), John Rutherford (R-Fla.), Ken Buck (R-Co.), John James (R-Mich.), Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) and Steve Womack (R-Ark.). They voted for others from Mr. McCarthy to Mr. Scalise to former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.).

The GOP opponents variously voted for Reps. Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Thomas Massie, Mike Garcia, Tom Cole, Tom Emmer, and Lee Zeldin, a former congressman.

Mr. Jordan got the same number of defections Mr. McCarthy had on the first ballot in January.

Mr. Giménez told reporters after the vote there is nothing Mr. Jordan can do to earn his vote.

Jordan on Way to Losing on 1st Ballot–1:11 p.m.

Nine Republicans have voted against Mr. Jordan, who could only afford to lose four Republicans:

Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.), Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), Anthony D'Esposito (R-N.Y.), Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), Kay Granger (R-Texas), Jake Ellzey (R-Texas), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla.), and Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.).

Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), who is leaning against Mr. Jordan, was absent from the chamber.

Vote Begins—1:01 p.m.

The House clerk is reading off names and taking a poll of who they want for speaker. The nominees are Mr. Jordan and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

Hakeem Jeffries Nominated—12:50 p.m.

House Democrat Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) is giving the nominating speech for Mr. Jeffries for speaker. There are 212 Democrats in the House and all of them are present.

Jim Jordan Nominated—12:46 p.m.

House GOP Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is giving the nominating speak for Mr. Jordan, saying he will be “America’s speaker ... for such a time.”

1 Republican Absent for Speaker Vote—12:46 p.m.

One Republican did not vote during the call of the House to establish a quorum. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) is absent but is scheduled to return in the evening. This means Mr. Jordan can only afford to lose three House Republicans.

Quorum Call Being Taken—12:10 p.m.

A call of the House is being taken to see how many members are in attendance.

Trump Calls for Jordan to be Speaker—12:02 p.m.

Former President Donald Trump said Tuesday he thinks Mr. Jordan will be elected speaker “sometime soon.”

“I think Jim will be Speaker of the House, he’s a fantastic young man,” Trump told reporters outside of the New York City courtroom where his civil trial is taking place. “He’s pretty young still and very strong … he has very proper opinions about our country, he loves our country, he wants to see it do well and I think he’s going to be confirmed sometime soon.”

Trump reiterated his endorsement for Mr. Jordan on Tuesday morning, writing on social media, “Jim Jordan will be a GREAT Speaker of the House. As everyone knows, I have long ago given him my Complete and Total Endorsement!”

McCarthy Predicts Jordan Will Win–11:33 a.m.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was removed from the speakership two weeks ago, believes Mr. Jordan would get the gavel.

“My prediction is Jim will win this, and even on the first round of votes,” he told Fox Business on Oct. 17.

Texas Congressman Predicts 8-10 Holdouts in Round 1–11:12 a.m.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), who is supporting Jordan, predicted that Mr. Jordan will not win the gavel in the first round of voting.

“I think it’s gonna be somewhere around eight to 10ish in the first round, and then we’re gonna have to pull off and go talk to those individuals and try to get them over the hump,” he told Fox News Radio on Oct. 17. “And that’s just where we are right now.”

The Holdouts–10:41 a.m.

There are at least five holdouts, one more than Mr. Jordan can afford: Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla.), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.).

Meanwhile, Reps. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), Ken Buck (R-Co.), Marianette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), and Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) are leaning toward voting against Mr. Jordan.