Jordan strives to reduce opposition ahead of speaker vote.
Rep. Jim Jordan Nears House Speaker Position as GOP Settles on Successor
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is inching closer to becoming second in line to the presidency as House Republicans look to finally settle upon who will succeed Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as House speaker.
“I felt good walking into the conference. I feel even better now,” Mr. Jordan told reporters after a GOP conference on Oct. 16.
“We’ve got a few more people we’ve got talk to, listen to, and then we’ll have a vote tomorrow.”
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In recent days, some key GOP holdouts, including Reps. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), Rob Wittman (R-Va.), and Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), flipped to say they will vote for the Ohio lawmaker—a promising sign for Mr. Jordan who on Friday had 55 Republicans signal in a secret ballot that they would not vote for him on the House floor.
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) raised concerns in the meeting that included her coming from a district that is just narrowly Republican and therefore they could perceive Mr. Jordan, a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, as too conservative, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) told reporters after the meeting. Ms. Greene said that Mr. Jordan reminded Ms. Miller-Meeks that he went to her district and campaigned and raised money for her, even getting supporters she likely would not have gotten were it not for him.
Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), who is supporting Mr. Jordan, told reporters after the meeting that the former wrestling coach should go for as long as it takes to win. Mr. McCarthy won the gavel after 15 voting rounds in January.
Emotions Run High
Ahead of the meeting, House Republicans expressed a range of emotions from upset to frustrated to confident.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) did not hold back on his opposition to Mr. Jordan.
“We need a speaker, we got a world on fire. But I didn’t put us there. The small group that took out Kevin, and then blocked Steve has put us on the spot,” he said. “So my main concern is as an American, we believe in the rule of law at fairness. And we had a small group of folks who broke our rules and got rid of Kevin. And then a small group broke our rules and blocked Steve.”
“Now they want us to follow the rules and support [Jordan] and I don’t like that. I don’t play a game where the other guy can break the rules and win.”
Mr. Bacon lamented what he essentially called a tyranny of the minority.
“We’ve had a minority of the majority dictate all of us, and it’s unacceptable,” he said.
Last week, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) was initially nominated by Republicans and defeated Mr. Jordan in a 111–99 vote. But Mr. Scalise announced he was withdrawing his candidacy after it became apparent that he couldn’t garner enough support to get over the finish line.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who is supporting Mr. Jordan, said that the past weekend allowed Mr. Jordan to shore up support for his speaker bid.
“It was good to take a pause this weekend and give people time to go back home, see their families, see their constituents, and then give Jim Jordan time to talk to the folks who had concerns,” he said.
Mr. Massie remarked there was a mix of pressure and persuasion to those who had their concerns about Mr. Jordan so that they could come around and support his candidacy. He said there is a 50 percent chance Mr. Jordan gets the needed 217 votes in order to win as he can only afford to lose four votes from his fellow House Republicans.
Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.), a moderate freshman, said he is supporting Mr. Jordan after the House Judiciary chair alleviated his concerns.
“I think that most people I represent want to know that I’m going to have a voice and that their issues will be heard,” he said.
But Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla.) said he is not supporting Mr. Jordan.
“If anybody ever tries to intimidate me, then that’s where I close the door,” he said.
He did not say whether there are people trying to intimidate him into supporting Mr. Jordan, but that he himself feels “very relaxed.”
Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) said her support was conditional on if Mr. Jordan manages to garner the requisite 217 votes before hitting the House floor. If not, the congresswoman said she would vote “present” to try to force the House Judiciary chairman to solidify his support in conference.
“I would also like to remind Jim that Republicans are not sheep and will refuse to support him if he will try to use the same McCarthy intimidation techniques on members on the floor,” Ms. Spartz said in a statement.
Rep. Nicolle Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), who is supporting Mr. Jordan, said that the Ohio lawmaker will represent all Republicans from the conservatives to moderates like herself.
“I always thought that Jim Jordan was the one that could bring it together,” she said.
While she expressed sympathy with those outraged over the removal of Mr. McCarthy, she said that “at the end of the day, we need to find that person who can unify all of us” and Mr. Jordan fits the bill.
Ryusuke Abe contributed to this report.
What are the emotions and opinions expressed by House Republicans leading up to the vote for House speaker, and how might these affect the final outcome
F excitement and apprehension in the air as House Republicans gathered to determine who would succeed Rep. Kevin McCarthy as House speaker. The frontrunner in this race is Rep. Jim Jordan, representing Ohio’s 4th congressional district. The developments leading up to this moment have been met with a combination of surprise, strategic persuasion, and divided opinions within the Republican party.
In a recent GOP conference on October 16th, Rep. Jim Jordan expressed his confidence in becoming the next House speaker. He stated, “I felt good walking into the conference. I feel even better now.” With a vote scheduled for the following day, Jordan acknowledged the importance of continuing conversations and listening to his colleagues’ perspectives before the final decision is made.
One crucial turning point for Jordan’s bid for the speaker position came when several key GOP holdouts announced their endorsement. Reps. Mike Rogers, Ann Wagner, Tom McClintock, Ken Calvert, Drew Ferguson, Rob Wittman, and Vern Buchanan declared their support for Jordan. This sudden show of solidarity signals a promising shift in favor of the Ohio representative. It is worth noting that only days earlier, 55 Republicans had indicated in a secret ballot that they would not vote for Jordan on the House floor, making this turnaround all the more significant.
During the conference, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks raised concerns about Jordan’s potential appeal, given her district’s narrow Republican majority. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene revealed that Jordan reassured Miller-Meeks by reminding her of his campaign efforts and fundraising support, which aided her victory in a district where she may have struggled without his assistance. This interaction showcased Jordan’s dedication to his party and his willingness to support colleagues even in politically challenging areas.
Other Republicans, such as Rep. Kevin Hern, voiced their unwavering support for Jordan and urged him to persevere until victory is achieved, evoking the memory of when Rep. McCarthy won the position after 15 rounds of voting earlier this year.
Emotions ran high before the conference, with House Republicans expressing a range of feelings, from upset to frustration and confidence. Rep. Don Bacon spoke openly about his opposition to Jordan’s nomination, emphasizing his belief in fairness and adherence to the rule of law. Bacon claimed that a small group within the party had broken rules to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker and to prevent Steve Scalise from assuming the role. As a result, he expressed reservations about supporting Jordan, arguing that the same individuals should not be rewarded for disregarding the party’s regulations.
Last week, Majority Leader Steve Scalise was initially nominated by Republicans but ultimately withdrew from the race due to insufficient support. This turn of events opened the door for Jordan, allowing him to solidify his backing during the past weekend. Rep. Thomas Massie, a supporter of Jordan, highlighted the importance of taking a pause and allowing representatives to connect with their constituents and address any concerns they may have had. This period of reflection and discussion was instrumental in garnering additional support for Jordan’s bid.
As the Republican Party eagerly awaits the outcome of the upcoming vote, a mix of excitement and apprehension lingers in the atmosphere. Rep. Jim Jordan’s remarkable journey from being initially overlooked to emerging as the preferred candidate for the House speaker position highlights the dynamism and unpredictability of American politics. With the support of key Republican figures and an opportunity to address concerns within the party, Jordan inches closer to
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