Wednesday, October 18, 2023 6:28PM
WASHINGTON — Rep. Jim Jordan has officially lost a second vote in his bid for speaker.
The Ohio Republican received 199 votes. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries received 212 votes.
On Tuesday, he had 20 GOP defectors. Jordan needs 217 votes to win the speakership
Jordan faced even more opposition in this second round, with 22 Republicans casting their ballot for someone else.
Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry gaveled the House into recess after the vote.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, bottom second from left, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., second row left, during the second-ballot speaker vote at the Capitol in Washington, Oct. 18, 2023.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Republicans will most likely go into a closed-door conference meeting, which is expected to include discussions about a potential short-term solution, among other things.
A conference meeting hasn’t officially been noticed to Republicans yet, but sources said that’s the next expected step after the vote closes.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, speaks with reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Jordan, a conservative firebrand, staunch Donald Trump loyalist and founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, received his party’s nomination last week after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise bowed out of the race.
Jordan told reporters the American people deserve to have an answer today on what lies ahead.
FILE – Then-President Donald Trump, right, encourages Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, left, to speak during a rally, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018, in Lewis Center, Ohio.
(AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
“Look, I think we got to decide today. Are we going to have a Republican speaker … or is the body going to adopt this resolution with the speaker pro tempore?” Jordan said, referencing an effort to empower Rep. Patrick McHenry to conduct House business.
“I think both questions should be called,” Jordan said. “Let’s get an answer. We’ve been at this two weeks, the American people deserve to have their government functioning.”
While Jordan has continued to attempt to sway holdout Republicans, only Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California has announced a change of heart following the first ballot. LaMalfa had initially voted for his fellow Californian, McCarthy — and now says he’ll support Jordan instead of the former speaker on the second ballot.
But the 19 other Republicans who bucked Jordan in the first round have not publicly shifted their stance yet.
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