After losing the first US House speaker vote, Republican Jim Jordan plans his next course of action

 After losing the first US House speaker vote, Republican Jim Jordan plans his next course of action

Jim Jordan, a combative right-wing Republican, lost a first vote on Tuesday to become speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, but further votes were anticipated that would defeat his rivals.

With 20 of his fellow Republicans voting against him, the Ohio legislator supported by former President Donald Trump received 200 votes, falling short of the 217 required to secure the position. Hakeem Jeffries, the party's leader, was supported by all 212 Democrats.

Due to the defeat, the House now lacks a speaker, as it has since a few conservative Republicans contrived Kevin McCarthy's resignation as speaker two weeks ago. With only one month remaining until the next partial government shutdown, Congress is now powerless to react to the hostilities in the Middle East and Ukraine.

How many of Jordan's Republican challengers would remain steadfast in later votes was unknown. In 15 rounds spread over four days in January, McCarthy never received fewer than 200 votes.

If Jordan wins, he would become one of Washington's most influential figures and be second in line for the presidency behind the vice president. Jordan is a conservative who has spent years warring with members of his own party.

As she proposed Jordan as speaker on the House floor, Republican Representative Elise Stefanik remarked, "He is a patriot, an America First warrior who wins the toughest of fights."

Republicans did not nominate a different candidate, but it did not stop his rivals from casting their votes for a different candidate. Many of them are moderates who represent districts with active political parties.

Six Republicans voted for McCarthy while seven Republicans voted for Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican whose own candidacy for speaker collapsed last week. Representatives Tom Cole, Tom Emmer, Thomas Massie, and Mike Garcia each cast one vote for Lee Zeldin, a Republican who left office in January.

Scalise and McCarthy both cast votes for Jordan.

Jordan's detractors have protested to conservatives' use of heavy pressure to compel them to follow suit. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, who backed Scalise, said, "I will not be bullied or intimidated."

The House is now controlled by Republicans by a slim 221-212 edge, leaving them little room for mistake on contentious votes like this one.

Jordan was spotted conversing with legislators who had voted against him on the House floor after the vote.

If Jordan does not get support, other Republican rivals might enter the race, including Patrick McHenry, the speaker-in-waiting, and Tom Emmer, the No. 3 House Republican.

Jordan, a founding member of the extreme right-wing House Freedom Caucus, has been seen for most of his career as a fractious presence on Capitol Hill who clashes with both Republicans and Democrats.

His supporters claim that in discussions with Democratic President Joe Biden among the Senate, which is also controlled by Democrats, he would be a strong champion for budget cutbacks and other Republican issues.

PERFORMING TRUMP'S COMMANDS

Jordan's candidacy has alarmed Democrats, who see him as an extreme who would follow US President Donald Trump's instructions.

Jordan's election, according to Democratic Representative Pete Aguilar, would demonstrate to the United States' adversaries that "the very people who seek to undermine democracy are rewarded with positions of immense power." We are discussing a person who has made it their life's work to slow down the progress of our nation.

According to a Democrat who spoke on the record on the condition of anonymity, Jeffries has proposed a bipartisan agreement that may increase the interim speaker's authority.

 

Jordan approaches her position in Congress from a very different perspective than other leaders, who normally exercise power by collecting money and maintaining party unity.

Jordan, a regular on right media channels, emphasized Trump's erroneous assertions about electoral fraud in 2020. He is assisting with the House Judiciary Committee's investigation into Biden's potential impeachment, which Democrats have denounced as being without merit.

The House Freedom Caucus, which he assisted in founding, was referred to as "legislative terrorists" by then-Speaker John Boehner before being forced to resign by its members. Jordan was a key architect of the 2013 and 2018 government shutdowns.

Jordan and McCarthy, who was ousted by a tiny band of Republican dissidents, got along well.

Republicans last week selected Scalise to replace McCarthy, but he withdrew from the race after failing to garner enough support. Some Republicans blame this development on Jordan and his backers.

Jordan worked as an Ohio State University wrestling coach before going into politics. Former students said in 2018 that he covered up the college wrestlers' doctor's sexual assault of them. A university inquiry found no concrete proof that he was aware of the mistreatment, and he vigorously refuted the accusations.