Mariannette Miller-Meeks says she got death threats after pulling support for Jim Jordan

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said Wednesday she has received "credible death threats" after pulling her support from U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio in the second round of balloting to choose the next speaker of the House.

Miller-Meeks, a Republican who represents the 1st Congressional District in southeast Iowa, supported Jordan in the first round of votes on Tuesday but cast her vote Wednesday for U.S. Rep. Kay Granger of Texas, a Republican who chairs the Appropriations Committee.

"Since my vote in support of Chairwoman Granger, I have received credible death threats and a barrage of threatening calls," Miller-Meeks said in a statement Wednesday evening. "The proper authorities have been notified and my office is cooperating fully."

In all, Jordan lost 22 Republican votes in his quest to become speaker. He ended the second round of voting with 199 votes, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York had 212. Candidates need 217 votes to win a majority.

More: Live updates: Jim Jordan faces second vote after 20 Republicans opposed him. Some want McHenry.

Jordan had the support of all four of Iowa's U.S. representatives during the first round of voting on Tuesday.

Miller-Meeks said she voted for Jordan on Tuesday "for the greater good of the House Republican Party."

"However, after one round of votes, with my support, he was not able to secure enough votes for the speaker nomination, and my initial concerns about threatening tactics of Jim Jordan’s supporters, including from members of Congress, increased despite assurances," Miller-Meeks said in the statement.

She called those who tried to influence her decision "bullies."

"One thing I cannot stomach, or support is a bully," she said in her statement.

"Someone who threatens another with bodily harm or tries to suppress differing opinions undermines opportunity for unity and regard for freedom of speech. That’s why I spoke out forcefully against censorship and suppression during the COVID-19 pandemic. I did not stand for bullies before I voted for Chairwoman Granger and when I voted for speaker designee Jordan, and I will not bend to bullies now."

Iowa's other three Republican U.S. representatives, Ashley Hinson, Zach Nunn and Randy Feenstra, maintained their support for Jordan in the second round of voting on Wednesday.

Jordan is a co-founding member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus and an ally of former President Donald Trump. He did not vote to certify President Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election and is helping lead House Republicans' impeachment inquiry into Biden as chair of the Judiciary Committee.

Miller-Meeks said her office has received calls from people urging her to support Jordan and others who "urged me to look for a conservative consensus candidate."

"Our party needs a consensus candidate so we can get back to the work forwarding appropriations, supporting Israel, and stopping the insane policies of the Biden Administration," she said in the statement.

The House has been without a speaker for more than two weeks, since a small group of Republicans successfully led an effort to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier this month. All four of Iowa's representatives had supported McCarthy.

Jordan headlined a fundraiser for Miller-Meeks earlier this year.

He condemned the threats against his colleagues in a statement on social media Wednesday night.

"No American should accost another for their beliefs," Jordan said. "We condemn all threats against our colleagues and it is imperative that we come together. Stop. It's abhorrent."

Miller-Meeks' likely Democratic opponent, former state lawmaker Christina Bohannan, criticized Miller-Meeks Tuesday for her first vote in favor of Jordan.

"Rep. Miller-Meeks’ choice for speaker yet again shows her true values," Bohannan said. "Instead of working together to empower a moderate option that can get things done for Iowa, Miller-Meeks prefers an extremist who is the author of the GOP’s nationwide abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest — which she also herself supported."

Miller-Meeks has said she supports a 15-week national abortion ban with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother.

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Iowa Congressmember gets death threats after voting against Jim Jordan