Jim Jordan working to convince holdouts he should be speaker

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, the Republican’s nominee for speaker of the House, spent the weekend trying to convince GOP holdouts that he’s the right man for the job. In a secret ballot Friday, about 50 members voted against his nomination. Jordan had 150 supporters but needs 217 to be the speaker. 

“At some point, you got either critical mass or you don’t and you go to the crucible on the floor and let the American people hear these conversations,” Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., told reporters. “A lot of people look at January and think it was an embarrassment. It wasn’t ideal. But to me, it was still healthy. We did it in public, we had the debate, we eventually got to a ‘yes’.” 

Frustration is building both in public and in private. Republicans are on day 13 without a speaker. 

“If I had to nail down what I think the frustration in the room is, it’s not directed at one particular person. It really is because there are fundamentally broken elements of the conference. There’s a lack of trust, there’s a lack of transparency, there’s a lack of communication, a lack of strategy,” Rep. Kat Cammack R-Fla., said. 

Democrats said they are willing to enter a bipartisan governing coalition. A group of four moderate Democrats wrote a letter to Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., offering to expand his power. They proposed allowing him to introduce bills that would extend government funding to avoid a shutdown on November 18 and provide aid to Israel and Ukraine. Currently, the House can’t do anything without a Speaker. 

“We want to find a bipartisan path to reopening the House of Representatives so we can solve problems for the American people and stand with our friends like Israel and Ukraine and others throughout the free world,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said. 

But Republicans said they are not interested in making a deal with Democrats, because Democrats joined with eight of the 221 House Republicans, or 3.6%, to oust Speaker McCarthy.

“We’re not going to be doing any type of coalition governments around here. We are not a European Parliament. We are the United States. We’re going to work through this, there will be a new speaker of the house, and then we’re going to get back to work,” Rep. Byron Donalds R-Fla., told reporters. 

Jordan’s supporters are working hard to get him the votes he needs and are expressing confidence in the Speaker designee. 

I would say that as sure as you are that you’ll see tomorrow’s sunset, Jim Jordan will be our Speaker,” Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said. 

The earliest a vote for Speaker is expected on the House floor is Tuesday at noon.