On Friday, Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio was nominated by House republicans through a secret ballot to fill the Speaker position, still vacant after California Representative McCarthy was ousted on October 3rd.
It seems, however, that he was not the first choice for the job.
Feeling the immense divide within the US House of Representatives and losing confidence in his chances of winning, Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise chose to withdraw his name from ballots for the House Speaker position. Scalise was initially the top contender among House Republicans, surpassing Representative Jim Jordan by 14 votes. His withdrawal from consideration came as a great shock to the house, sending it into further turmoil.
Jordan is backed by Donald Trump, but his success with the floor vote is much more contested, even among the GOP. He will be facing off against the Democratic nominee and New York representative, Hakeem Jeffries. Will enough members of the House voice Jordan’s name to make him the Speaker, or will he fall short of the 217 votes he’ll need to secure the position?
If history is any indication, Jordan may have a tough time gaining the necessary support.
He was given the weekend to rally his supporters and convince skeptics he’s the man for the job, while the House republicans declared a recess before the floor vote. A defender of Trump’s actions on Capital Hill and co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, Jordan receives much skepticism from the GOP. Many Republicans consider him a quote “brawler” among politicians and are not in a hurry to put their weight behind someone who defends the January 6th attack on the capital.Jordan is also one of the leading figures in the impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden, and while some republicans fear further political polarization, others find his unwavering principles refreshing. But is that enough to override contentions against him?
Jordan’s past as assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University may be grounds for further hesitation by House voters. He was accused by several members of the team of turning a blind eye to ex-coach Richard Strauss’ sexual misconduct, to which he denies any guilt. But the accusation continues to haunt him five years later.
In the meantime, House voters now face the troubling question of present situations. With the November 17th government funding deadline growing closer and the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza falling deeper into violence, the House must decide whether or not to extend interim Speaker Patrick McHenry’s power.
But everyone, including House Representatives, are wondering what today’s vote will decide. Is Jim Jordan going to be the next Speaker of the House, or will the house remain in shambles?
Thanks for listening to today’s C2 Story, and we’ll see you all on the other side!
