The House of Representatives is heading into yet another day without a speaker, and likely another day of votes amid Republican infighting and a failure to rally enough support \u2014 twice over \u2014 for Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan.<\/p>\n
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., announced the next votes in the House would take place no earlier than 12:00 p.m. Thursday.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s when Jordan, R-Ohio, intends to hold a third round vote on the floor for speaker.<\/p>\n
\u2018We\u2019re going to keep going,\u2019 Jordan\u2019s spokesman told Fox News Digital Wednesday.<\/p>\n
A Jordan spokesman doubled down Wednesday night, saying they have all intentions of going for a third round vote.<\/p>\n
Republicans nominated Jordan to be the next House speaker, but he needs support from 217 members.<\/p>\n
All House Democrats and 22 Republicans voted against Jordan\u2019s bid for speaker on Wednesday. That\u2019s two more GOP lawmakers voting against him than on Tuesday. All Democrats voted for Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.<\/p>\n
But Jordan allies insist that is not a sign of a failed speaker campaign.<\/p>\n
\u2018Don\u2019t lose faith if [Jordan] loses a few votes on the second ballot. I\u2019m committed to voting as many times as we must to get Jim elected as Speaker, as long as he is putting his name forward,\u2019 Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., wrote on X. \u2018If that means we vote all night, then buckle up cause we will vote all night!\u2019<\/p>\n
And earlier, House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry, R-Pa., also expressed optimism.<\/p>\n
\u2018Just so there\u2019s no surprises: Jordan will likely have FEWER votes today than yesterday \u2014 as I expected,\u2019 Perry said on social media.<\/p>\n
\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.\u2019<\/p>\n
But even as at least 199 Republican lawmakers rally around Jordan, some are looking for alternate paths, including how to empower Rep. Patrick McHenry, who is currently serving as interim speaker, also known as speaker pro tempore.<\/p>\n
Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Pa., chairman of the Republican Governance Group, is calling to flesh out McHenry\u2019s role in leadership, particularly in light of the urgency for Congress to approve aid for Israel as it fights a war with terror group Hamas.<\/p>\n
The idea is also gaining steam among lawmakers who voted against Jordan. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., who has said he will keep voting for McCarthy on the House floor, told Fox News Digital that he was supportive of the effort.<\/p>\n
\u2018If we don\u2019t get to a speaker in a day or two, I think we need to move forward in getting the House back in business, and so any resolution that would give McHenry more power to do that\u2026 I would be in favor of,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives is very much charting uncertain territory now \u2014 Rep. Kevin McCarthy\u2019s removal was the first in the chamber\u2019s history \u2014 and it\u2019s not clear that McHenry\u2019s current powers extend beyond just overseeing the election of the next speaker.<\/p>\n
While McHenry has said that he has no interest in the role, he is rapidly emerging as a likely consensus candidate that at least some Democrats could agree to.<\/p>\n
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said McHenry was \u2018respected on our side of the aisle\u2019\u00a0when asked\u00a0on Tuesday evening if he could be a viable candidate. Jeffries also said there were \u2018informal conversations\u2019 about making a deal on a GOP speaker that he hoped would \u2018accelerate\u2019 after Jordan\u2019s rocky performance.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday night, former Republican Speakers Newt Gingrich and John Boehner both endorsed the idea of empowering McHenry.<\/p>\n
Still, sources told Fox News Digital that Jordan has a path to the speakership, with some suggesting he just simply may need more time to garner support. That source said a temporary solution could help Jordan do just that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The uncertainty in the House comes after Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., earlier this month, introduced a motion to vacate against then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. When all Democrats and eight Republicans voted together, McCarthy was ousted from his post \u2014 a first in United States history.\u00a0<\/p>\n