Staff Reports
Oh boy, it looks like the hardliners supporting Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) might be in for a rough day. The House is convening for a second round of voting, and things are not looking great for Jordan’s chances of becoming speaker.
.@Jim_Jordan allies temper expectations ahead of second round speaker vote
DETAILS: https://t.co/Ab33GeBdbB https://t.co/Ab33GeBdbB
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) October 18, 2023
Even though Jordan managed to win the GOP nomination last week, he fell short of clinching the gavel on Tuesday. Twenty Republicans broke away from the pack and opposed his candidacy on the House floor. Ouch.
Sure, Jordan did manage to snag a few unexpected votes from Biden-district Republicans who are probably starting to regret their decision. But in the end, he only got 200 out of the 217 votes he needed. That’s a real bummer.
To make matters worse, some of the centrists who reluctantly supported Jordan in the first round might change their minds and withdraw their backing. Hard-liners like Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Andy Ogles (R-TN) are already signaling that they’re not impressed with Jordan’s performance so far. Talk about tough love.
Now, let’s not forget about the irony here. Just earlier this year, it was Roy and Ogles who were causing trouble for Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s bid for speaker. McCarthy managed to overcome the opposition with his charm and fundraising skills, but Jordan doesn’t have that luxury. If his numbers don’t improve, he might be in for a rude awakening sooner rather than later.
In the meantime, Republicans like Rep. Dave Joyce are already thinking ahead. They want to give Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), who is currently the speaker pro tempore, more powers while the conference figures out a “consensus” candidate to replace Jordan. Hey, it’s always good to have a backup plan.
Meanwhile, the Democrats are watching this whole ordeal with a mix of amusement and openness. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) even hinted that they might be willing to strike a deal. Who knew politics could be so full of surprises?
It’s been a tough road for Rep. Jim Jordan, and it doesn’t look like things are getting any easier. But hey, who knows what will happen next? Stay tuned, folks. It’s never a dull moment in the world of politics.
