Jim Jordan drops out of Speaker’s race

October 20, 2023

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) dropped out of the race for Speaker after his third failed attempt to be elected to the position. 

Jordan’s withdrawal came after he lost a secret ballot vote of the House GOP behind closed doors,  just hours after the full House of Representatives on Friday voted 235-194 against him on the chamber floor.

The secret ballot vote was 112 Republicans against Jordan remaining in the race, and just 86 in favor of him staying in.

On Friday in the House chamber, 25 Republicans joined with all Democrats in voting for other candidates—three more Republicans than had voted against Jordan on Wednesday and five more than on Tuesday. 

After Jordan dropped out on Friday, Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) told reporters he was running for Speaker, as did Reps. Pete Sessions (R-TX), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Austin Scott (R-FL), Jack Bergman (R-MI), and Tom Emmer (R-MN).

Other Republican lawmakers who were reportedly weighing their own runs for Speaker include Reps. Jodey Arrington of Texas, Mark Green of Tennessee and Mike Johnson of Louisiana.

However, it’s unclear whether any of these lawmakers could obtain the needed 217 votes to secure the Speakership, either. 

According to Fox News, GOP Candidates for Speaker must file by Sunday ahead of a Speaker’s forum on Monday.

“House Republicans will return on Monday at 6:30pm for a candidate forum, followed by an election process on Tuesday morning at 9am,” Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry (R-NC) said after leaving the closed-door meeting Friday.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) said a little after 2pm ET that the House was leaving until Monday when they will “start over.”

“Monday we’re going to come back and start over,” he said as he left conference.

PHOTO: Jim Jordan during House vote Friday

Read more exclusive news from Political IQ.

 

 

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