House is expected to move to second vote after Jordan fails to win speaker's gavel
Jim Jordan, the House Judiciary Committee Chairman hailing from Ohio and a member of the Republican Party, faced a challenging outcome as he vied for the Speaker of the House position in the initial ballot. Despite the anticipated setback, Jordan and his supporters have plans to initiate subsequent rounds of voting. During the first round of voting, the House tallied a vote of 200 in favor and 232 against, with 20 Republicans opposing Jordan's candidacy. Some House members chose to cast their votes in favor of previous contenders for the role, including former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. It became evident within the first 10 minutes of the extensive voting process that Jordan lacked the necessary support to secure victory in the initial round. Jordan now faces the formidable task of garnering widespread Republican support to clinch the position. Prior to the vote, every member of the House present in Washington was called to the chamber, resulting in a full assembly that witnessed a lengthy and occasionally spirited voting process. Members occupied nearly every seat, occasionally standing to express their support or opposition. Those who remained in favor of Scalise and McCarthy offered muted applause or cheers when fellow members objected to Jordan's candidacy. However, the most resounding GOP applause erupted when Scalise and McCarthy stood to endorse the current party nominee for the position. Those who opposed Jordan's candidacy cited concerns about his track record, potential alienation of voters in pivotal swing districts, and lingering frustration over McCarthy's removal as key factors in their objections. Notably, many objections came from members on the Appropriations and Armed Services Committees, groups deeply skeptical of Jordan's willingness to fulfill fundamental governance responsibilities such as funding the government and meeting military expenditure requests. These committee members gathered in quiet conversations as they awaited the official conclusion of the first round of votes. The voting process followed a tense morning, as members assembled in the chamber for the critical decision. Jordan and his allies shuttled in and out of the official office for the Speaker of the House, where McCarthy's nameplate still hung, signifying its status as a meeting point for Republicans as they grappled with their leadership dilemma. Tourists and guides passing by couldn't help but joke that perhaps the day had finally arrived when the McCarthy sign would come down. Jordan expended considerable effort in the hours leading up to the vote, embarking on a comprehensive campaign to persuade fellow Republicans to rally behind him. Over the past several days, Jordan and his allies have worked diligently to convince doubters that he can transcend his image as a political maverick to lead the party, particularly in a crucial election year. Speaking to reporters in the Capitol on Monday night, Jordan emphasized the necessity of a functioning House of Representatives for the American people. He stated, "We can't have that until we have a speaker." The Republicans held a final closed-door meeting on Monday night before the vote, providing members with an opportunity to voice their concerns, grievances, and questions regarding Jordan. Despite increasing pressure for the party to choose a leader and move forward, many left the meeting unconvinced that Jordan was the right choice to lead their party. Jordan's path to securing the Speaker's gavel is narrow, and his aides anticipate that he may fall short of the required votes in the initial ballot, necessitating subsequent rounds of voting. While additional rounds may be necessary, Jordan's supporters hope that the public vote will eventually rally members to align behind him. Jordan has received an endorsement from former President Trump, and his speakership vote is widely viewed as a public loyalty test for the Republican Party. Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, a Republican, indicated his intention to vote for McCarthy ahead of the vote, deeming it "unacceptable" for a small minority to dictate the actions of the conference. Bacon, whose district was won by President Biden in 2020, expressed concerns about fellow Republicans not adhering to the rules. He emphasized, "It's not about Jim – it's about Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise and how they were treated. We need a speaker. We've got a world on fire. But we didn't put us there — I didn't put us there. The small group that took out Kevin and then blocked Steve have put us in this spot.