POLITICS
House Still Without Speaker As Rep. Jim Jordan Works To Secure Republican Votes
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The U.S. House of Representatives remains unable to take action without a speaker nearly two weeks after the historic ouster of Rep Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), and as war in Israel enters its tenth day.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the chair of the House Judiciary Committee and one of the leaders of the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, is still working to secure the Republican votes necessary to win a vote in the full House, which is expected Tuesday.
Last week, more than 50 Republicans voted against supporting Jordan in a floor vote, but he can only sacrifice a few due to the party’s slim majority.
The differences between Republicans and Democrats in the House far outweigh our differences in the Republican Conference, Jordan said Sunday in a post on X, formerly Twitter. This country and the GOP Conference cannot afford us attacking each other.
In addition to passing aid for Israel, the House was already under pressure to elect a new speaker before a temporary budget extension expires on Nov. 17, threatening a government shutdown. Without an elected speaker, the House cannot pass any legislation, including international aid.
McCarthy was ousted by just a handful of conservative Republicans after Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) filed a motion to vacate the chair, forcing a historic vote on whether to keep McCarthy, which he lost 216–210. He was the first House speaker in U.S. history to be removed by a floor vote.
McCarthy struggled to unite House Republicans behind a budget deal to avoid a government shutdown, as the more conservative flank led by Gaetz pushed for deep domestic spending cuts and objected to sending more aid to Ukraine, which continues to fight off a Russian invasion that began last year.
Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the majority leader and second-ranking Republican in the chamber, withdrew from consideration on Thursday after failing to secure enough votes for the speakership.
After announcing his candidacy last week, House Republicans on Wednesday nominated Scalise in a closed-door meeting by a vote of 113–99 over Jordan. But in order to secure the speakership, Scalise needed a majority of votes from the full House, and Republicans remained divided.
There are still some people that have their own agendas and I was very clear: We have to have everybody put their agendas on the side and focus on what this country needs, Scalise said in a statement announcing his withdrawal.
There are some folks [who] really need to look in the mirror over the next couple of days and decide: Are we going to get it back on track? Or they’re going to try to pursue their own agenda? You can’t do both, he said.
Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina remains interim speaker, with limited powers, until another candidate can secure the votes needed to take the chair.
If all members of the House are voting, a Republican candidate for speaker can only lose four Republican votes and still win the gavel.
TMX contributed to this article.
