Jim Jordan says he's 'confident' he can still win after losing first vote for speaker
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U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio lost 20 Republican votes in the first round of voting for House speaker on Tuesday, keeping him from clinching the speaker's gavel.
Jordan said afterward he was not surprised and expected to do better in the next round, expected around 11 a.m. Wednesday.
“We feel confident,” he said, ducking into a leadership office “We’ve already talked to some members who are going to vote with us on the second ballot.”
More: Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan announces bid for U.S. House speaker after Kevin McCarthy ouster
If Jordan succeeds, he would be next in line to the presidency after the vice president. He would be the first speaker of the House from Ohio since John Boehner, who left the job in 2015.
The U.S. House has been without a speaker for two weeks. U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was voted out Oct. 3 when he brokered a deal with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown.
Jordan, R-Urbana, announced Oct. 4 that he intended to run for speaker. Jordan defeated Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., who made a surprise entrance into the speaker’s race hours earlier as an anti-Jordan alternative.
More: Rep. Jim Jordan wants to be US House speaker. What to know about the native Ohioan
Jordan needs nearly all of the House GOP majority, to win the speakership. Democrats supported House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who had the most votes on Tuesday with 212. Jordan had 200 on the first ballot.
Jordan has represented Ohio's 4th congressional district since 2007 and chairs the House Judiciary Committee.
Who voted against Jim Jordan?
Twenty GOP lawmakers voted against the Ohio Republican Tuesday, revealing a significant uphill climb for his bid for speaker.
The following voted for former Speaker of the House Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California:
Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska
Rep. Lori Michelle Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon
Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California
Rep. Carlos Gimenez of Florida
Rep. Jen Kiggans of Virginia
Rep. Mike Lawler of New York
The following voted for House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana:
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of New York
Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas
Rep. Kay Granger of Texas
Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania
Rep. John Rutherford of New York
Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho
Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas
The following voted for former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin:
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito of New York
Rep. Andrew Garbarino of New York
Rep. Nick LaLota of New York
Others include Rep. Jake Ellzey of Texas who voted for Rep. Mike Garcia of California; Rep. John James of Michigan who voted for Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole; Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana who voted for Kentucky Rep. Tom Massie and Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado who voted for majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota.
– Rachel Looker
Don't expect Joe Biden and Jim Jordan to have a cozy relationship
If Jim Jordan is elected speaker of the House, he and President Joe Biden aren't expected to work closely together.
As chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Jordan is spearheading House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry into Biden. He also voted against certifying Biden’s victory in the 2020 election.
Biden hasn't gone out of his way to address the Republican infighting in the House.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said earlier this month that the White House views the process of choosing the speaker as an internal issue, but she said the president "hopes that the House will quickly elect a speaker, because the urgent challenges facing our nation will not wait."
– Ken Tran, Marina Pitofsky
Democrats strategize messaging ahead of a potential Jim Jordan speakership
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent a memo to House Democrats Tuesday outlining a messaging strategy under a potential Speaker Jordan to use against Republicans ahead of next year’s elections.
The committee urged Democrats to show voters that the Republican Party lacks moderates and is unable to stand up to the ultra-conservatives within the caucus, alleging that a speakership under Jordan would mean extremism governs the House.
Republicans who vote for Jordan as speaker are “simply following Trump’s marching orders,” according to the memo, and are “incapable of governing themselves.”
The memos lists several examples of what the committee cites as Jordan’s extremism, including his choice to vote against certifying Biden’s victory in the 2020 election, his role as a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus and his voting record on issues like Medicare, 9/11 aid and disaster relief.
“The DCCC is committed to ensuring that every battleground member of the Republican conference who stands and votes for a Speaker Jordan will be making a career ending move,” the memo states.
- Rachel Looker, USA TODAY
Trump stumps again for Jordan
Former President Donald Trump has already weighed in on the Speaker vote, taking to social media to again push Jordan’s candidacy.
“Jim Jordan will be a GREAT Speaker of the House,” Trump posted Tuesday morning on Truth Social. “As everyone knows, I have long ago given him my Complete and Total Endorsement!”
Expect Trump to take credit if Jordan prevails.
−David Jackson, USA TODAY
This story will update.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: U.S. House to vote on Jim Jordan speaker nomination
