The House will not hold a third vote on House Judiciary Committee Jim Jordan’s (R-Ohio) bid for speaker — at least for now.
On Thursday, Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman reported Jordan — who has lost two rounds of voting this week — would not call for a third round of voting.
Instead, the Ohio Republican will support a plan to empower House Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) through January.
NEWS — JIM JORDAN will not hold a third ballot for speaker. He will back PATRICK MCHENRY as an interim speaker until JANUARY.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 19, 2023
MCCARTHY, MCHENRY, JORDAN, COLE and EMMER met this morning
We reported this this AM in @PunchbowlNews AM.
CONFERENCE STARTING NOW.
On Tuesday, 20 Republicans voted for someone other than Jordan for speaker. And on Wednesday, the number increased to 22, raising doubts about whether he could secure the required 217 votes.
CNN’s Melanie Zanona reported Republicans opposed to Jordan planned to stagger their votes against him to make it appear the opposition was growing.
NEWS: Some of Jim Jordan's opponents tell me they've been purposely staggering their "no" votes over multiple ballots — a strategy designed to show Jordan's speakership opposition is only growing.
— Melanie Zanona (@MZanona) October 18, 2023
And that's why they tell me Jordan will bleed even more support on a third ballot
After Jordan lost the first vote, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) wrote on his personal site that lawmakers should give McHenry more power so the chamber can pass legislation without formally electing a speaker.
Former House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) shared the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, and wrote, “I agree.”
However, it was unclear whether there would be enough votes to empower McHenry temporarily.
Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) called it “the biggest F U you to Republican voters.”
He also predicted “more than half of Republicans” would oppose the move.
.@Jim_Banks called election of speaker pro tem “the biggest F U you to Republican voters.”
— John Bresnahan (@bresreports) October 19, 2023
Banks said “more than half of Republicans” will oppose it, meaning it will need majority Democratic support
The House has not had a speaker for over two weeks when Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was stripped of the position.