The House battle for a new speaker just got more complicated thanks to Rep. Jim Jordan temporarily throwing in the towel.
This week the House held two votes on Jordan’s speakership bid but both failed, leading most to expect Jordan to try at least one more time. Except the Ohio Republican suddenly decided to throw in the towel after the second vote on Thursday.
According to reports, Jordan will instead back current interim speaker Patrick McHenry, or at least until January:
NEWS — JIM JORDAN will not hold a third ballot for speaker. He will back PATRICK MCHENRY as an interim speaker until JANUARY.
MCCARTHY, MCHENRY, JORDAN, COLE and EMMER met this morning
We reported this this AM in @PunchbowlNews AM.
CONFERENCE STARTING NOW.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 19, 2023
But here’s where it gets a little complicated.
Jordan is still the so-called “speaker designee,” and according to The Daily Caller, he still plans to run for speaker — just not now. A source close to him said that he will continue to “try to shore up votes until” January.
“Remains speaker designee. Not dropping out. McHenry temporary till January,” the source added.
That said, those Republicans who were hoping to see Jordan as the next speaker are not pleased by him throwing in the towel early and leaving McHenry as speaker. They say he should also just drop out altogether so that someone else can run for speaker.
Look:
McCarthy needed 15 rounds to become Speaker, so why is Jim Jordan throwing in the towel after only 2?!
I think he’d make a great Speaker, but if he’s unwilling to continue fighting, then he needs to withdraw himself as Speaker designee and let someone else step in
No McHenry!! https://t.co/gV0i30GiJy
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) October 19, 2023
What I didn’t expect was Jim to be so weak. He basically caved in two rounds. So weak and weaker than McCarthy.
— Schavinian (@Schavinian) October 19, 2023
Clearly, Jordan is not the person for the job if he is giving up after only a few votes.
Republicans are cowards and a clown show…
— Rick (@SniperGhostM24) October 19, 2023
Exactly.
If @Jim_Jordan doesn’t want to fight for us then put someone else up and get this done.. but do not just hand this to McHenry. No one wants McHenry!— Hope Eternal (@HduntonBrooks) October 19, 2023
Honestly sounds like he made a deal with the devil, bc Jordan is a fighter and wouldn’t just surrender. So either he made a deal or they dug up some of his past that he doesn’t want released
— GOD (@Mbright23) October 19, 2023
America needs fighters not wishy washy sorts who’ve been in government so long they forgot how to fight or worse, never had a real job and have been in DC after bringing all their participation trophies from government schools.
— Disinfect DC (@CovfefeClick) October 19, 2023
There’s also a great deal of anger being aimed at the Republican Party as a whole.
“The republicans are such an embarrassment at this point. It’s like herding cats. Or herding RINOs,” one critic tweeted.
“And another win for the swamp, republicans fail again, but truly didn’t we expect that? Hoped for more, but we have corrupt cowards,” another added.
See more criticism below:
There needs to be a new conservative party. The Republican party is dead.
— OldFashBTC (@OleFshBTC) October 19, 2023
Dang, and here we thought something could change.
Silly us! Especially when the Uniparty has a war movement to continue!— IcarusPhoenix27☢ (@AllApol90253644) October 19, 2023
I don’t blame Jim Jordan. Republicans are a bunch weak, backstabbing traitors who don’t give a S about the American people.
— Forever Trump! (@jacqueline_m19) October 19, 2023
I am SO sick and tired of the GOP’s pathetic weakness and corruption!!!
When you can’t even manage to get a milquetoast moderate like Jim Jordan into the speaker’s chair, what good are any of you???
We need REAL conservatives, REAL fighters,…. no more RINOs!!!— StillLivinginthewoods (@Stillnthewoods) October 19, 2023
The only good news is that the lack of a speaker makes it impossible for Congress to pass legislation, including potentially harmful legislation.
The bad news, of course, is that without a speaker, Congress likewise can’t defund Ukraine spending or put limits on Israel spending.
As for President Joe Biden, during his flight home from Israel on Thursday, he sarcastically expressed some sympathy for Jordan.
“I ache for him,” he said.
“You do?” a reporter asked.
“No, he – zero. None,” the president replied.
Listen:
Reporter: “Do you have a view of Jim Jordan’s current predicament being unable to secure the speakership?”
Pres. Biden: “I ache for him… *laughs* No. Zero. None.” pic.twitter.com/CXayeIeSnr
— Reshad Hudson (@ReshadHudson) October 18, 2023
And lastly, as for McHenry, he faces some opposition from Rep. Tim Burchett, a Republican who says he opposes any moves to expand his powers.
“I think we ought to stay here and do our work and not kick the can down the road. We do that for everything,” he told CNN.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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