Rep. Jim Jordan, from Ohio, remains determined to become the next speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, despite facing opposition from fellow Republicans. Jordan cited the previous multiple rounds of voting for the position, comparing it to former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s need for 15 ballots before securing the job in January.
Jordan intends to pursue a third round of voting for his candidacy on Friday morning at around 10 a.m. Eastern time. His goal is to promptly elect a new speaker so they can assist the American people.
During the second ballot on Wednesday, Jordan experienced significant opposition, with 22 GOP lawmakers voting against him. In the initial round of voting on Tuesday, 20 fellow Republicans supported other candidates. Currently, no Democrats are in favor of Jordan’s bid for speaker. To secure the position, he needs a simple majority of 217 votes out of the total 433 (221 Republicans and 212 Democrats in the House).
Unfortunately, the process of selecting a new speaker has hindered crucial matters that require attention in the Republican-run House. Issues like supporting Israel and passing a budget to avoid a potential government shutdown next month are being delayed, causing concern among analysts and potentially impacting market stability.
To address the current lack of direction in the House, GOP Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina has been called upon to assume the role of the chamber’s permanent speaker. However, a proposal to appoint McHenry until January faced objections from several Republicans, leading to its delay on Thursday afternoon.