Rep. Jim Jordan suffered a second defeat in his bid for the House speakership, with 22 Republicans voting against him, an increase from the 20 who opposed him in the previous vote.
The setback for the House Judiciary Committee Chairman occurred as more Republicans withdrew their support. During the voting, Jordan received 212 votes, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) secured 199 votes. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) received five votes, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) got seven.
Though the level of Republican opposition was less than anticipated, it marked an embarrassing setback for Jordan, falling short of the majority needed to secure the gavel.
The loss marked an embarrassing setback for Jordan, intensifying calls within the GOP to empower Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) to lead the House as Republicans seek a path out of the turmoil they’ve created for themselves.
Despite efforts to decrease opposition, lingering resentment over McCarthy’s removal and frustration with how Scalise was treated persisted. In a surprising move, Reps. Ken Buck and Vern Buchanan voted against Jordan, with Buchanan switching his vote to Rep. Byron Donalds and Buck supporting House Majority Whip Tom Emmer.
Amid discussions about potential leadership options, Rep. Mike Gallagher expressed concerns about empowering interim speaker Patrick McHenry beyond administering a vote. While open to a Kevin McCarthy comeback, Gallagher stated he had no interest in the speakership himself, despite his name being mentioned by others.
