WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, failed to get enough votes to become the new House speaker in the second ballot Wednesday. No more votes are planned Wednesday.
There were 432 members of the House on Wednesday, so Jordan needed 217 votes, of which he received 199. In total, 22 Republicans voted against him — more than the 20 who did the previous day.
A number voted for former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, whose historic ouster two weeks ago is what led to the search for a new leader, while some supported House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., was among those who voted for McCarthy. His wife has reportedly gotten messages telling her husband to support Jordan or he would be ousted from office.
Rep. Mike Kelly, a Pennsylvania Republican, voted for John Boehner — the former House speaker who retired in 2015. Another representative, Republican John James of Michigan, voted for former GOP Rep. Candice Miller, who is now the public works commissioner for Macomb County.
Despite these setbacks, Jordan’s spokesperson told NewsNation after the vote the embattled representative plans “to keep going.”
Oklahoma Republican Rep. Tom Cole nominated Jordan for the role Wednesday on the House floor, saying he is focused on the budget, border security and getting U.S. aid to support Israel.
“It takes a spine of steel to do this job,” Cole said. “My friend has that kind of determination, has that kind of character, has that kind of spine.”
Added Cole: “I don’t think anybody in here on any issue of any substance would have to guess where Jim Jordan is going to stand.”
New York Rep. and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was nominated by Democrats. Jeffries received more votes than Jordan in the first and second vote, getting the support of 212 House members in both. In his nominating speech for Jeffries, California Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar criticized Jordan for being “hell-bent on banning abortion nationwide, gutting Medicare, gutting Social Security and giving cover to Jan.6 attackers.”
“Those aren’t the values that we share,” Aguilar said.
This vote came as discussions are intensifying regarding the potential option of granting acting House Speaker Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., the authority to manage legislative affairs and conduct floor votes.
While most Republicans were trying to elect Jordan, a number of GOP members held out, as some say the ally of former President Donald Trump is too extreme. The Ohio representative was more than 50 votes short of clinching the speaker title during an internal party vote last Friday.
Some Republican lawmakers are still upset about McCarthy’s removal, while others expressed frustration with Scalise having to withdraw due to his inability to secure enough votes for the speakership on the floor despite winning a closed-door party vote.
NewsNation confirmed Tuesday, based on information from two Democratic sources, that if Jordan fails to garner enough support promptly, there are ongoing discussions between the two parties about a potential agreement.
This agreement would grant McHenry the authority to conduct floor votes on matters such as Israeli aid and government spending.
On Wednesday, GOP Rep. Dave Joyce of Ohio told NewsNation he plans on filing a motion to give McHenry some emergency temporary powers should Jordan prove unsuccessful in a second vote.
“After two weeks without a Speaker of the House and no clear candidate with 217 votes in the Republican conference, it is time to look at other viable options,” he said in a statement. “By empowering Patrick McHenry as Speaker Pro Tempore we can take care of our ally Israel until a new Speaker is elected.”
Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia, highlighted this development in a video she posted on X Tuesday night.
“I believe that Congress must get back to work, but I will not put the defense budget in jeopardy, especially at a time like this when we’ve set off two carrier battle groups to sit off the coast of Israel and in harm’s way. That’s why I support extending the authority of pro tem Patrick McHenry as we work to overcome the chaos caused by the minority of the majority,” Kiggans said.
Kiggans noted her concerns about potential cuts to the defense budget by Jordan, which could lead to a government shutdown.
McHenry, though, voted for Jordan.
Empowering a temporary speaker has never been done before.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
