Jim Jordan fails in initial bid for Speakership.
Jim Jordan Falls Short in Bid for Speaker of the House
Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) faced a setback on Tuesday in his quest to become the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. However, this defeat may not be the end of his ambitions, as more votes are expected to follow that could weaken his opponents.
Jordan, a staunch ally of former president Donald Trump, secured 200 votes, falling short of the 217 needed to secure the position. Twenty of his fellow Republicans voted against him, while all 212 Democrats voted for their leader, Hakeem Jeffries.
It remains uncertain how many of Jordan’s Republican opponents will remain steadfast in subsequent votes.
If he ultimately succeeds, Jordan, who has a history of clashing with leaders of his own party, could find himself in one of the most influential roles in Washington, making him second in line for the presidency.
The Republican Party, which controls the chamber, nominated Jordan as a replacement for Kevin McCarthy, who was removed as speaker by a small group of fellow Republicans on October 3.
“He is a patriot, an America First warrior who wins the toughest of fights,” Republican representative Elise Stefanik said as she nominated Jordan for speaker on the House floor.
However, six Republicans voted for McCarthy, and another seven voted for Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican whose own bid for speaker fell apart last week. Three Republicans voted for Lee Zeldin, who retired from Congress in January, and Republican representatives Tom Cole, Tom Emmer, and Thomas Massie each received one vote.
Both McCarthy and Scalise voted for Jordan.
The infighting within the Republican Party has left the House unable to address pressing issues such as support for Israel and Ukraine, as well as funding for the U.S. government.
Jordan, a founding member of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, has long been viewed as a divisive figure on Capitol Hill, often clashing with both Republicans and Democrats. Nevertheless, he secured the Republican nomination for speaker last Friday and has been working to gain support from former opponents within the party.
With Republicans holding a narrow 221-212 majority in the House, they have little margin for error on contentious votes like this one.
Jordan will exert pressure on Republican holdouts to align with subsequent votes.
In January, McCarthy never received fewer than 200 votes in 15 rounds over four days.
If Jordan fails to gain support, new Republican challengers could emerge, including Patrick McHenry, who is temporarily filling the speaker’s chair, and No. 3 House Republican Tom Emmer.
Supporters of Jordan argue that he would effectively advocate for spending cuts and other Republican priorities in negotiations with Democratic President Joe Biden and the Democrat-controlled Senate.
‘Doing Trump’s Bidding’
Democrats have strongly opposed Jordan’s candidacy, portraying him as an extremist who would unquestioningly follow Trump’s orders.
Democratic representative Pete Aguilar stated on the House floor that Jordan’s election would demonstrate to the United States’ enemies that “the very people who seek to undermine democracy are rewarded with positions of immense power. We are talking about someone who has spent their entire career trying to hold our country back.”
Jeffries has proposed a bipartisan agreement that could grant more powers to McHenry or another compromise speaker, according to an anonymous Democrat.
Jordan approaches the role from a fundamentally different perspective than other congressional leaders, who typically wield influence through fundraising and maintaining party unity.
A regular presence on conservative media outlets, Jordan amplified Trump’s baseless claims of election fraud in 2020. As chair of the House Judiciary Committee, he is currently involved in an impeachment inquiry into Biden, which Democrats dismiss as unfounded.
He played a key role in founding the House Freedom Caucus, a group that then-speaker John Boehner referred to as “legislative terrorists” before succumbing to pressure from its members to retire. Jordan was also involved in government shutdowns in 2013 and 2018.
Jordan had a more cooperative relationship with McCarthy, who was forced out by a small group of Republican insurgents.
Republicans initially nominated Scalise to succeed McCarthy last week, but he withdrew his bid after failing to consolidate support, a development that some Republicans attribute to Jordan and his supporters.
Prior to entering politics, Jordan served as a wrestling coach at Ohio State University. In 2018, former students accused him of turning a blind eye to sexual abuse of college wrestlers by the team’s doctor. Jordan denied these allegations, and a university investigation found no concrete evidence that he was aware of the abuse.
(Reporting by David Morgan, Makini Brice, and Moira Warburton; writing by Andy Sullivan; editing by Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis, and Grant McCool)
How does Jim Jordan’s confrontational approach and lack of willingness to work across the aisle affect his ability to build consensus within the Republican Party?
And the world that the Republican Party is still beholden to Trump and his dangerous rhetoric and policies.
Jordan’s close alignment with Trump during his presidency has raised concerns among Democrats about his ability to lead and make objective decisions. They argue that he lacks the necessary independence and impartiality to effectively serve as speaker of the House and represent the interests of all Americans.
Throughout his career, Jordan has been known for his strong conservative beliefs and his willingness to fight for them. He is often seen as a fiery and passionate advocate for the Republican Party’s agenda, but critics argue that this often comes at the expense of bipartisan cooperation and compromise.
Despite these criticisms, there is no denying that Jordan has a significant base of support within the Republican Party. His reputation as a fighter and his dedication to conservative principles have earned him the admiration of many Republicans, especially those on the far right.
However, Jordan’s confrontational approach and his unwillingness to work across the aisle have also alienated some members of his own party. His clashes with Republican leaders in the past have raised questions about his ability to build consensus and unite the party.
While Jordan may have fallen short in his bid for speaker of the House, it is clear that he remains a powerful force within the Republican Party. His high vote count and the ongoing support from key Republican leaders indicate that he still has a strong base of support and influence.
As more votes are expected to follow, it remains to be seen whether Jordan can rally enough support to secure the position of speaker. However, even if he falls short, Jordan’s continued presence and influence within the Republican Party will undoubtedly shape the direction of the party and its policies for years to come.
Ultimately, the outcome of the speaker race will have significant implications for the future of the Republican Party and its ability to effectively lead and govern. As the party grapples with internal divisions and a changing political landscape, the choice of its leader will be crucial in determining its path forward.
While Jordan may not have succeeded in his bid for speaker this time, his ambitions and influence cannot be underestimated. As the political landscape continues to shift and evolve, Jim Jordan’s role within the Republican Party will remain one to watch.
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