Threats over vote for US House Speaker sent to Georgia Congressman and family

WSBTV.com News Staff
·3 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson said he received threats after changing his vote for Speaker of the House.

The Republican lawmaker, and representative for District 3, covering parts of West Central Georgia, initially voted to support Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan for Speaker but changed his vote in the second round.

Ferguson said in a statement that while he had supported Jordan to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, concerns about the “threatening tactics and pressure campaigns” by Jordan supporters to drum up votes influenced his choice when the House voted again.

Now, according to the congressman, he’s facing those same threatening tactics, as is his family.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The first vote to choose a new speaker, where Jordan was the frontrunner among Republicans, failed when 20 Republicans and every Democrat voted no.

The Republican lawmakers were:

  • Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., who voted for McCarthy.

  • Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., who voted for Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn.

  • Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., who voted for McCarthy.

  • Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., who voted for former Rep. Lee Zeldin.

  • Rep. Jake Ellzey, R-Texas, who voted for Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif.

  • Rep. Mario Diaz Balart, R-Fla., who voted for Scalise.

  • Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., who voted for Zeldin.

  • Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., who voted for McCarthy.

  • Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who voted for Scalise.

  • Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, who voted for Scalise.

  • Rep. John James, R-Mich., who voted for Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla.

  • Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., who voted for Scalise.

  • Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., who voted for McCarthy.

  • Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., who voted for Zeldin.

  • Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., who voted for McCarthy.

  • Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., who voted for McCarthy.

  • Rep. John Rutherford, R-Pa., who voted for Scalise.

  • Rep. Michael Simpson, R-Idaho, who voted for Scalise.

  • Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., voted for Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.

  • Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., who voted for Scalise.

Ferguson said in his statement about the votes that he’d discussed his concerns over threats and attacks with Jordan. The Georgia congressman said he originally planned on voting for him again, but as “pressure campaigns and attacks” on colleagues in the house increased, he instead voted for Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican.

“When the pressure campaigns and attacks on fellow members ramped up, it became clear to me that the House Republican Conference does not need a bully as the Speaker,” Ferguson said.

After voting for Scalise on Wednesday’s vote, the Georgia Republican said threats came in.

TRENDING STORIES:

“Shortly after casting that vote, my family and I started receiving death threats. That is simply unacceptable, unforgivable, and will never be tolerated,” Ferguson said.

In the interim after the failed second vote, Jordan urged an end to the attacks and threats against his colleagues in the House.

“No American should accost another for their beliefs. We condemn all threats against our colleagues and it is imperative that we come together. Stop. It’s abhorrent,” Jordan said in a statement.

With the second failed vote to attain the Speakership, Jordan announced a third vote for who would pick up the gavel would not be held yet.

That means the U.S. House remains frozen and limited in what it can do as a legislative chamber, pending the confirmation of a new Speaker of the House.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS: