Hard-line conservative Jim Jordan sought to shore up support for his bid to become speaker of the paralyzed US House of Representatives Monday, despite multiple colleagues ruling out handing him the gavel.
The lower chamber of Congress has been at a standstill since Republican speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted by his own party two weeks ago — unable to pass legislation to address a looming government shutdown or war in the Middle East.
Jordan, the 59 year old chairman of the powerful Judiciary Committee who is backed by Donald Trump, has voiced confidence that he can get the 217 votes required to secure the speakership in a vote expected on Tuesday. But he clinched the House Republican conference’s internal speaker election Friday with a decidedly underwhelming 124 votes to 81 against an obscure lawmaker who had never shown any interest in the job.
Republicans held a second “validation vote” to see how many would back Jordan on the floor and 55 said no.
Jordan spent the weekend trying to chip away at that number but there is still a sizeable group said to be opposed to his candidacy.
House Republicans have only a four-seat majority and the floor vote is much tougher for a candidate to win than the internal election — almost all members need to get behind that nominee for them to prevail.
Louisiana’s Steve Scalise, the Republican second-in-command, beat Jordan narrowly for the nomination last week before abruptly dropping out when it became clear he wouldn’t win a floor vote.
That created bad blood between the Jordan camp and Scalise supporters upset by their candidate not getting the full-throated backing of the entire party after winning the nomination.
– Tall order –
Moderates also complain that Jordan supporters are using strong-arm tactics to pressure those unsure whether to back him.
“That is the dumbest way to support Jordan,” Texas Republican Dan Crenshaw told CNN. “As somebody who wants Jim Jordan, the dumbest thing you can do is to continue pissing off those people and entrench them.”
Crenshaw added that it would be a tall order for Jordan to get to 217 votes. “Nothing’s impossible, but it’s going to be really, really difficult, based on what I’m hearing,” he said.
US media reported that at least 10 mainstream Republicans have determined to vote against Jordan for as long as it takes to ensure he never wins the gavel. The former wrestling coach from Ohio can only lose four out of 221 House Republicans.
If Jordan’s bid founders, Louisiana’s Mike Johnson, the vice chairman of the conference, and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer have both been suggested as alternatives.
But some Republicans believe no candidate would be able to get the required votes and that a power-sharing agreement with Democrats might be necessary. The party of President Joe Biden would demand heavy concessions, however, to support a Republican speaker.
Another option would be to expand caretaker speaker Patrick McHenry’s authority, giving him the power to bring bills to the floor. Democratic members of a cross-party group called the Problem Solvers Caucus suggested giving McHenry the power to move legislation addressing aid to Ukraine and Israel, the government shutdown looming in November, and the 2024 budget.
“The extremists have broken the House of Representatives,” Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries posted on social media.
“Only a bipartisan governing coalition can fix it.” – Frankie TAGGART
