Is the third time the charm for Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan?
Alas, his colleagues said no early in the roll call by an even larger margin than the first two votes. But, by every indication, the conservative firebrand will bounce back and attempt to whip votes for his candidacy once again.
“Our plan this weekend is to get a speaker elected to the House of Representatives,” Jordan told reporters. “We need to get to work for the American people. We can't do that if the House isn't open, and we can't open the House until we get a speaker.”
On Friday morning, the U.S. House of Representatives gave the Trump-endorsed candidate for speaker another shot at the speaker's gavel.
To win the gavel, he needed 217 votes. Instead, he received 194.
Reports from Thursday suggested that Jordan initially supported the House GOP's efforts to give more power to Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry and was willing to put his political ambitions aside in order to end the paralysis on Capitol Hill.
That changed after Jordan's closest allies balked at the idea and conservative media personalities turned up the heat on the House Republican Conference.
The reinvigorated Ohio Republican told reporters on Capitol Hill that he wouldn't back down.
Despite the morale boost, Jordan continues to face fierce opposition from appropriators, institutionalists and moderates who – above anything else – despise the aggressive tactics employed by his allies to coerce them and threats of violence from unhinged members of the general public.
It took Kevin McCarthy a grueling 15 rounds to finally win the position of speaker. How long it will take this time is anyone's guess.
This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.
