House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has lost a second-round vote to win the speaker\u2019s gavel on Wednesday, calling into doubt whether he can ever be elected.<\/p>\n
Twenty-two Republicans voted against Jordan on this round, after 20 did so on Tuesday during the initial vote. Jordan needs to secure a majority threshold of 217 votes to win.<\/p>\n
Reps. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., Drew Ferguson, R-Ga., Marianette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, and Pete Stauber, R-Minn., all joined Jordan\u2019s growing opposition, having voted for him in the first round and then for other candidates on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Two holdouts from the previous day, Reps. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., and Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., voted for Jordan on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Asked what his next move was, Jordan said he would \u2018keep talking to members.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018We don\u2019t know when we\u2019re going to have the next vote, but we want to have conversations with our colleagues,\u2019 Jordan said.<\/p>\n
Even before the vote, the Ohio Republican\u2019s allies conceded that he could likely lose support on the second round but remained optimistic that he would pull through.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Just so there\u2019s no surprises: Jordan will likely have FEWER votes today than yesterday \u2014 as I expected,\u2019 House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry, R-Pa., said on X. \u2018This is the fight \u2014 which Jim Jordan represents \u2014\u00a0to end the status quo, and it ain\u2019t easy\u2026Stay strong and keep praying.\u201d<\/p>\n
But some Republicans have suggested a second Jordan loss could mean it\u2019s time to evaluate other options.<\/p>\n
\u2018If the number keeps going up then that\u2019s a great sign, and we should continue to try to build upon that consensus until we can reach the 217,\u2019 said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., a Jordan supporter.<\/p>\n
\u2018And if it goes down, well then, we have to go back to the drawing board and have a conversation about what our other options are.\u2019<\/p>\n