Republican Jim Jordan falls short again in bid for US House top job

WASHINGTON — Outspoken conservative Jim Jordan was falling short in his second attempt at the top job in the US House of Representatives on Wednesday, as his fellow Republicans considered a backup option for the leaderless chamber to move forward.

Jordan looked like he would get less than the 217 votes needed to fill the vacant speaker's chair, as 13 Republicans had cast ballots against him early in the roll-call vote. With a 221-212 Republican majority, that suggested Jordan would lose again. Voting was continuing.

Jordan secured just 200 Republican votes on Tuesday.

If the second vote fails, it is unclear whether Jordan would mount a third attempt, or whether he would clear the way for a fallback option that would give increased power to Representative Patrick McHenry, who has been temporarily filling the speaker's chair.

Republicans who control the chamber have been unable to unite behind a speaker candidate since a small faction of them ousted Kevin McCarthy on Oct. 3.

That could allow Congress to respond to crises in the Middle East and Ukraine and fund the government past Nov. 17, when current funding is due to expire.

"We've got to decide today," Jordan told reporters. "Both questions should be called. Let's get an answer. We've been at this two weeks. The American people deserve to have their government functioning."

That idea has been floated by Republicans and Democrats, as well as two former Republican speakers, Newt Gingrich and John Boehner.

One proposal submitted by Republican Representative Mike Kelly would name McHenry as speaker through Nov. 17 or until a permanent speaker is selected, which would remove uncertainty about his current ability to run the chamber. That temporary solution could also buy more time for Jordan to line up support for the job after that point.

Democrats, whose support would likely be crucial, have made clear they want Jordan out of the picture. "We want a bipartisan path forward. That does not involve Jim Jordan, who is a poster child for Republican extremism and a danger to our democracy," House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Tuesday.

Republican opponents

Jordan's supporters say he would be an effective advocate for advancing conservative priorities in Washington, where Democrats control the White House and the Senate.

"I don't think anybody in here on any issue of any substance would have to guess where Jim Jordan is going to stand. He doesn't deceive. He doesn't dissemble. He simply tells you straight up," Republican Representative Tom Cole said as he nominated Jordan for speaker ahead of the vote.

But other Republicans have voted against him for a variety of reasons, including his positions on taxes, spending and disaster aid, and the strong-arm tactics of his supporters.

New Republican alternatives aside from McHenry could also emerge if Jordan does not pick up support. Potential candidates include Representative Tom Emmer, currently the No. 3 House Republican.

Jordan, a former wrestling coach, is a close ally of former President Donald Trump and a founder of the far-right House Freedom Caucus.

Unlike previous House leaders, who gained influence by raising money and building broad coalitions, Jordan has made his name as a vocal leader of the party's hard right, tangling with Democrats and Republicans alike.

He helped drive Republican Boehner into retirement in 2015 and advocated for government shutdowns in 2013 and 2018.

A congressional investigation found that Jordan was a "significant player" in Trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

As chair of the House Judiciary Committee, he has led investigations into Democratic President Joe Biden's administration and is a driving force in an impeachment inquiry into Biden that Democrats say is baseless. — Reuters