Jim Jordan vows to stay in speaker's race, House unable to do its work: What you missed

WASHINGTON — In the nation's 16th day without a speaker of the House, Republican lawmakers made seemingly no progress towards electing a new, permanent leader.

Lawmakers looked like they were coming close to a deal after Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, backed a plan empowering Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., as speaker until January to get the House moving again. McHenry has already been serving as an interim speaker with limited powers, and Jordan has lost two speaker elections on the House floor.

But after an hours-long, closed-door meeting, House Republicans appeared to reject the plan, putting the lower chamber − and the nation − back at square one. But Jordan vowed not to give up his bid for the speakership.

As long as the House doesn't have a speaker, lawmakers can't approve crucial legislation, such as funding to avoid a government shutdown or aid to Israel as the country's war rages on with Hamas.

Catch up with USA TODAY's updates on the speaker fight.

House to hold third speaker election tomorrow

The House will convene for a third speaker election at 10:00 a.m. Friday morning, Jim Jordan's office confirmed Thursday evening.

– Ken Tran

Republican holdouts urge Jim Jordan to drop out

Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., told reporters that he and the other Republican holdouts who have refused to support Jim Jordan told the Ohio lawmaker on Thursday to withdraw his candidacy.

"He needed to know there's no way forward for a speakership," Rutherford said. "He missed his moment in leadership when he failed Steve Scalise. That was pretty much everybody's opinion."

Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise previously sought the speakership but withdrew his bid earlier this month.

– Ken Tran

Former lawmaker Lee Zeldin heads to Jim Jordan's office

Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., entered Jordan's office Thursday evening.

Part of the New York GOP delegation, a faction against Jordan, voted for Zeldin as a protest candidate in the last two speaker elections the Ohio Republican lost.– Ken Tran

Why is there no speaker of the House? Jordan seemingly no closer to winning over holdouts

Jordan left a meeting with a handful of the GOP holdouts against him and said they had a "good discussion."

But some of those Republican lawmakers who left the meeting room, including Reps Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. and Mike Kelly, R-Pa., said their minds have not changed. The meeting seems to have done little for Jordan's pursuit of the speakership.

– Ken Tran

McCarthy says Jordan should 'fight through it'

Leaving the speaker's office, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the former speaker of the House, told reporters Jim Jordan should stay in the race and "fight through it."

"Don't give up right away," McCarthy said.

– Ken Tran

Who is voting against Jim Jordan? Here are the Republican holdouts

The major problem facing Jordan is that his opponents come from various corners of the House Republican conference, each with their own grievances against the Ohio Republican.

A portion of the New York GOP delegation for instance, are pressing Jordan for commitments to increase what's known as the SALT tax cap, a state and local tax deduction popular with their constituents back home.

Other lawmakers, such as Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a vulnerable and moderate GOP lawmaker, are refusing to vote for Jordan out of frustration with how conservative hardliners seemingly have a stranglehold on the rest of the House Republicans.

Bacon has argued voting for Jordan would effectively be rewarding “bad behavior” from conservative hardliners, the people who fueled the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Jordan is also facing opposition over his proposed government funding plan that could include a 1% cut across the board to government spending, which would include defense spending. Among those lawmakers is Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fla., chair of the House Appropriations Committee.

A large portion of the GOP holdouts against Jordan are currently meeting with the Ohio Republican, McCarthy and McHenry.

– Ken Tran

Jordan publicly vows to stay in speaker’s race

Jordan, leaving the an hours-long meeting with his fellow Republicans that resulted in no progress towards electing a new speaker, portrayed confidence in his bid, even as the holdouts against him show no interest in budging.

“We made the pitch to members on the resolution (to empower McHenry) as a way to lower the temperature and get back to work. We decided that wasn’t where we’re gonna go,” Jordan told reporters. “I’m still running for speaker and I plan to go to the floor and get the votes and win this race.”

Before heading to a possible third speaker election however, Jordan said he will consult his allies and meet with the holdouts and attempt to assuage their concerns “so that we can move forward and begin to work for the American people.”

– Ken Tran

Why didn't Republicans support empowering an interim speaker?

A group of Republicans on Thursday afternoon appeared to balk at the idea of granting McHenry additional powers.

For example, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., chair of the House Republican conference, came out against the now-dead resolution to empower McHenry as an interim speaker.

"I strongly oppose any attempt to create a Democrat backed coalition government," Stefanik said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Empowering McHenry almost certainly would have required Democratic support.

Stefanik is the No. 4 ranking House Republican and her opposition against the resolution is a likely indicator any further attempts to empower McHenry have a steep uphill climb.– Ken Tran

GOP lawmaker: Jordan to call wife and talk to McCarthy ahead of third speaker vote

Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., told reporters Jim Jordan will consult his family and ousted former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy before a possible third speaker election Thursday.

-- Ken Tran

Resolution to empower McHenry looks unlikely, GOP lawmakers say

Exiting a closed-door meeting, Republican lawmakers said the resolution to empower McHenry will not go to the floor.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., told reporters he expects there to be a third speaker election Thursday, with Jordan as the GOP nominee again.

– Ken Tran

McCarthy: 'Nobody's involved' in key issues

Speaking to reporters outside the closed-door meeting, McCarthy noted how following his ouster, there is no clear GOP leadership to handle key legislative issues, such as funding the government or passing a foreign aid package for Israel.

"Nobody's involved in this because that brilliant eight people led by Gaetz, this was apparently their plan," McCarthy said.

"I don't quite understand what that helps America for, what that helps the conservative cause because it's actually the reverse," he added.

– Ken Tran

Does McHenry already have power? GOP is split

Among one of the points of debate in the closed-door conference meeting is whether there is even need for a resolution to empower McHenry. McHenry already has powers to oversee legislation on the House floor, some House Republicans have argued.

Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y., told USA TODAY he believes McHenry already has the "authority to move forward."

The acting speaker however, has been resistant to the idea, Molinaro said, instead pushing for Congress to pass a resolution instead to resolve the issue.

GOP lawmakers have been huddling for two and a half hours now and there is still no clear timeline for when the measure to empower McHenry would be considered

– Ken Tran

Republicans might hold internal vote on a path forward

The efforts to empower McHenry have bitterly divided the House Republican conference to the point members might hold an internal vote to determine support.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, said members are questioning whether the measure is constitutional. An internal vote would effectively be a test to see where the conference stands on granting McHenry temporary powers.

"There's a desire to still vote on it so it's clarified there's no potential challenges," Crenshaw told reporters.

– Ken Tran

House Democrats says GOP must make concessions

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., told reporters House Republicans shouldn't expect Democrats to vote to empower McHenry without making some concessions.

"We're not just going to give our votes," Raskin said. The Maryland Democrat deferred to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on what those concessions might look like.

"Obviously, if our votes are needed, we're going to be substantively involved in the definition of what the agenda is," Raskin added.

– Ken Tran

GOP lawmaker estimates half of House Republicans against McHenry

Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., told reporters he expects half of the House Republican conference to oppose the measure granting McHenry temporary powers.

Zinke himself did not say whether he would support the resolution, noting he thinks the House should elect a speaker and reiterating his support for Jordan.

– Ken Tran

House Democrat: 'Time to reopen the House'

Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., left the door open to supporting a resolution to empower Patrick McHenry.

"We have to see the details" first, Moskowitz told reporters.

House Democrats, Moskowitz said, are biding their time and waiting to hear from Republicans on the proposal.

– Ken Tran

Democratic lawmaker: House GOP needs 'intense therapy'

Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., said House Democrats were keeping their powder dry on supporting a resolution to empower McHenry.

The resolution has sparked fury from a sizable portion of the House Republican conference, meaning Democrats will have to pitch in and support the measure.

McGovern, reacting to the infighting the resolution has caused, suggested for House Republicans to stop holding conference meetings and instead opt for "intense therapy."

– Ken Tran

House Democrats hold their own closed-door meeting

Meanwhile, just a one-minute walk away from a closed-door meeting where House Republicans are debating a resolution to empower McHenry, House Democrats are huddling to discuss next steps.

The move to empower McHenry as a temporary speaker will almost certainly require a heavy lift from Democrats. Hard-right lawmakers have been leaving the GOP meeting furious and lambasting the resolution.– Ken Tran

House vote postponed

A roll call vote to determine attendance in the House, scheduled for noon, has been postponed as lawmakers continue to debate a resolution that would empower McHenry as an interim speaker.

– Ken Tran

Jordan to back McHenry as temporary speaker until January

Jordan will back empowering McHenry as temporary speaker up until January, according to a source familiar.

In the meantime, Jordan will continue to run for speaker and work to shore up support over the next few months.

– Ken Tran

Chair of ultraconservative Freedom Caucus against empowering McHenry

Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., chair of the House Freedom Caucus, a loose coalition of hard-right lawmakers, told reporters he would oppose empowering McHenry with temporary powers.

The resolution to make McHenry effectively an interim speaker "sets a bad precedent," Perry said.

– Ken Tran

House Republicans discussing resolution to empower McHenry

House Republicans are currently meeting behind closed doors to discuss a resolution from Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, to temporarily empower McHenry as acting speaker.− Ken Tran

John Boehner for speaker? GOP holdout casts ballot for former speaker in protest

Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., one of the GOP holdouts against Jordan voted for former speaker John Boehner on Wednesday in the second speaker election as a protest vote.

The vote drew some applause from House Democrats.

Boehner served as House speaker from 2011 to 2015 and was virtually removed by House Republicans, led by Jordan and the House Freedom Caucus, who threatened to oust him from the speakership akin to McCarthy’s ejection earlier this month. Boehner ultimately resigned in the face of those threats.

– Ken Tran

Who is Patty Murray?

Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat representing Washington state, currently serves as president pro tempore of the Senate.

Without an official speaker of the House, Murray was next in line for the presidency after Vice President Kamala Harris in the case of an emergency.

– Marina Pitofsky

House Republicans to meet as Jordan faces steep climb to speakership

House Republicans will huddle in a closed-door conference meeting at 11 a.m. Thursday to discuss next steps.

The meeting comes as Jordan faces growing opposition to his bid for speaker and talks increase about giving temporary speaker Patrick McHenry more power.

− Ken Tran

When is the next vote for speaker of the House?

As Jim Jordan still faces stiff opposition from GOP holdouts after failing two consecutive ballots, it is unclear when the House will hold a third speaker election.The House will come into session at noon for a roll call vote to determine attendance, but it's uncertain when a speaker vote will be held.

Jordan, R-Ohio, told reporters Wednesday he intends to stay in the race and expected a vote at noon Thursday. But as it remains clear Jordan has no path towards the 217 votes he needs to become speaker, the timing of the third speaker election is up in the air.

− Ken Tran

How to watch the speaker vote live

Lawmakers were originally expected to begin proceedings at noon Thursday in Washington, but timing could change if Republicans meet in conference first. When the House reconvenes, you can follow along here.

– Marina Pitofsky

Jordan holdout: Conservative hardliners 'created the situation'

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., one of the moderate GOP lawmakers opposing Jordan, told USA TODAY the House is in its state of paralysis by the fault of the conservative hardliners who have overturned "precedent."

Hard-right lawmakers, Lawler told USA TODAY, "set a new precedent within this congress." The New York Republican referenced multiple times ultraconservatives tanked rule votes, traditionally procedural votes that until this year, never failed.

The historic move to remove McCarthy from the speakership, Lawler added, was done with "no real planning," resulting in the gridlock that has consumed House Republicans.

− Ken Tran

Who is acting speaker McHenry?

Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., was chosen to be acting House speaker from a succession list that McCarthy provided to a House clerk in January in case his seat became vacant.

McHenry is serving his 10th term in Congress and represents the 10th congressional district in North Carolina. He is a McCarthy ally and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, a role that helped him negotiate the debt limit deal earlier this year.

He was appointed in 2015 by then House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., to serve as the Chief Deputy Whip, helping Scalise build agreement around a conservative policy agenda for the House Republican Conference.

−Sudiksha Kochi

Will Hakeem Jeffries become speaker of the House?

No.

Technically, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries could be elected, as there are no requirements for the speaker to be from the majority party (or even a member of Congress). In both rounds of voting this week, Jeffries has received 212 votes, the full backing of House Democrats and more than Rep. Jim Jordan both times.

However, the New York Democrat would still need five more votes to hit the necessary 217.

Despite infighting among Republicans, it's very doubtful any lawmaker on the right, let alone five, will cast a vote across the aisle.

−Savannah Kuchar

How many votes are needed for speaker of the House?

The number of votes needed is determined by a majority of House lawmakers present and voting.

On Tuesday, that number was 217. Because no lawmaker received 217 votes in the first election, the speaker race continues today.

When the vote for speaker begins Wednesday, members will have a roll call vote to determine how many are present and voting − and how many votes are needed to win. Then they will be called on individually to cast their vote for a speaker.

Voting could last several rounds Wednesday or be postponed until another day if a speaker isn't elected during the second try.

– Candy Woodall

What happened to Kevin McCarthy? Here's what to know about the former speaker of the House

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., had a rocky start to his reign as speaker. He went through 15 rounds of voting to get elected and had to make concessions with hard-line conservatives who opposed him.

But once elected, his detractors' frustrations only grew, particularly during debt ceiling negotiations between McCarthy and President Joe Biden

The boiling point of his speakership hit late last month when McCarthy worked with Democrats to pass a stopgap measure, also known as a continuing resolution, to avoid a government shutdown.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who criticized McCarthy for the measure, introduced a motion to vacate and remove McCarthy as speaker.

Eight Republicans and 208 Democrats voted to oust him. The eight were Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado, Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona, Gaetz of Florida, Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Rep. Matt Rosendale of Montana.

– Sudiksha Kochi

Michigan GOP Rep. Jack Bergman ready to 'step up' and serve as speaker

Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., is prepared to "step up" and serve as House speaker to help lead the party out of the chaos both it and the nation currently face, his spokesman James Hogge said in an email to the Detriot Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.

"It’s becoming clear Rep. Jordan’s path is narrowing by the hour,” Hogge said. ““We cannot go another day without a Speaker. He simply doesn’t have the votes — we need to have a frank discussion as a conference about a path forward. If as a conference we see he can’t get the necessary votes to become Speaker, General Bergman is prepared to step up."

20 House Republicans voted against Jordan in the first House speaker election while 22 Republicans voted against him in the second election. Bergman supported Jordan in both rounds.

Bergman said on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday that “We need a leader to step up to unite the Republican conference, actually pass critical legislation, and move our Nation forward.”

−Paul Egan and Sudiksha Kochi

Who voted against Jordan for speaker? Here are the holdouts so far

The second ballot was another setback for Jordan’s bid for speaker. Twenty-two GOP lawmakers voted against Jordan, an increase from the 20 that opposed him on Tuesday. They are:

• Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb.

• Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla.

• Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo.

• Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore.

• Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y.

• Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla.

• Rep. Jake Ellzey, R-Texas

• Rep. Drew Ferguson, R-Ga.

• Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y.

• Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla.

• Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas

• Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas

• Rep. John James, R-Mich.

• Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa.

• Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va.

• Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y.

• Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.

• Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa

• Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla.

• Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho

• Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn.

• Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark.

– Ken Tran

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Republican Jim Jordan vows to stay in speaker of the House race: Recap