Jordan’s bid for House speakership faces growing opposition in Australian context

House Speakership up in the air as resistance to Jim Jordan hardens

Published 6 hours ago

The race for the House Speakership in the United States has hit a roadblock as resistance to Republican Jim Jordan intensifies among members of his own party. In an unexpected turn of events, 20 Republicans refused to vote for the right-wing congressman from Ohio, causing him to lose the first vote. This comes after the House was left without a Speaker following the ousting of Kevin McCarthy two weeks ago in a right-wing revolt. The absence of a leader prevents the House from passing bills and approving emergency aid requests from the White House, including potential help for Israel amidst its war with Hamas.

Divisions within the Republican Party

Jim Jordan, known for his strong ties to former President Donald Trump, obtained only 200 votes in the first round of voting, falling short of the required 217 to secure the Speaker’s gavel. While the Democratic nominee, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, earned more votes with 212, Democrats remain the minority party in the House, making the count insufficient. Nevertheless, Jordan remains determined and confident in his chances of securing the position, stating, “We’re making progress. I feel good about it. We’re gonna keep going.”

However, Jordan can only afford to lose four Republican votes in a chamber where his party holds a narrow majority of 221-212. The Republicans who refused to back Jordan instead voted for Kevin McCarthy, the former Speaker who was removed from the position on October 3rd, or chose other candidates. In a surprising twist, three Republicans even voted for Lee Zeldin, a New York congressman who retired from the House earlier this year.

The opposition to Jordan within his own party stems from a variety of reasons. Some New York Republicans cited his opposition to benefits for survivors of the 9/11 attacks as a factor in their decision. On the other hand, fellow New York Republican Elise Stefanik praised Jordan as “a patriot, an America First warrior who wins the toughest of fights.”

The History of Feuds and Political Differences

Jordan has a history of feuding with members of his own party. As a founding member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, he has been labeled as a “legislative terrorist” by former Republican Speaker John Boehner. His confrontational style and staunch conservatism have garnered both support and opposition within the Republican Party.

Following the first vote, Jordan held meetings with the Republicans who voted against him. Despite this, some of the dissenting members showed no signs of changing their position, with a few even suggesting that the number of votes against Jordan may grow. Several critics pointed out that Jordan has not acknowledged former President Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election to Joe Biden, highlighting ongoing divisions within the party.

Oregon’s Lori Chavez-DeRemer, one of the anti-Jordan holdouts, proposed giving interim Speaker Patrick McHenry of North Carolina additional powers to allow the House to function during the impasse. Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican who supports Jordan, expressed surprise at the level of opposition Jordan faced, indicating the depth of the divisions within the party.

Democratic Criticism and Possibilities for Resolution

Meanwhile, Democrats are seizing on the Republican turmoil, painting Jordan as an extremist. California Democrat Pete Aguilar described him as “a vocal election denier.” Nancy Pelosi, a two-time former Speaker and current California Democrat, remarked that Jordan had clearly underestimated the resistance to his bid for the Speakership. According to Pelosi, Republicans need to “take lessons on mathematics and how to count.”

In an attempt to find a compromise, Democratic minority leader Hakeem Jeffries offered to work with Republicans to find a Speaker that could suit both parties. He acknowledged informal conversations that have taken place in recent days and suggested that these discussions could accelerate in light of Jim Jordan‘s inability to secure the necessary votes. If support for Jordan collapses entirely, Minnesota’s Tom Emmer, the third highest-ranking Republican in the House, could become the next potential candidate for Speaker.

A Lengthy Process Ahead

This ongoing struggle for the Speakership is reminiscent of the lengthy and contentious process that occurred earlier this year when Kevin McCarthy needed 15 rounds of voting over four days to ultimately secure the position. Divisions within the Republican Party, including opposition to funding for the war in Ukraine, were significant factors in McCarthy’s protracted journey to the Speakership.

The Speaker of the House holds considerable power and is second-in-line to the presidency after the vice-president. As the United States grapples with a range of pressing domestic and international issues, including the aftermath of the 2020 election and the conflict in Israel, the resolution of the Speakership race will be critical in determining the direction and effectiveness of the House of Representatives.