Jordan out as speaker nominee, Republicans starting from scratch

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is out as the GOP nominee for speaker of the House and Republicans will start the process from scratch. In a secret ballot Friday afternoon, Oct. 20, Republicans voted 112 – 86 that they did not want Jordan to remain as the speaker designee, so he removed himself from the running.

Republicans now have until noon on Sunday, Oct. 22, to declare their candidacy. Multiple members already said they are entering the race, including Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla.

“People and their interests are the same,” Hern told reporters. “They want to be heard, they want to be valued and certainly we’ll work hard to do that.”

Other declared candidates include Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., and Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga.

My hat is in the ring, and I feel confident I can win the votes where others could not. I have no special interests to serve; I’m only in this to do what's best for our Nation and to steady the ship for the 118th Congress. https://t.co/PlAPGakWTk

— Rep. Jack Bergman (@RepJackBergman) October 20, 2023

Scott told reporters that the Republican conference needs to heal deep wounds.

“They’re gonna have to be healed or the Democrats are going to end up controlling the House,” Scott said. “And we can’t allow the Democrats to have the House, the Senate and the presidency. And that is their ultimate goal.”

Other names being considered or floated include Budget Committee Chairman Jody Arrington, R-Texas, and Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La.

A candidate forum is scheduled for Monday night, Oct. 23, and a vote to choose the nominee is scheduled for the next morning. By that time, the House will have gone three full weeks without a speaker.

“What history will look at, the crazy eights led by Gaetz, the amount of damage they have done to this party and to this country is insurmountable,” Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said. “Really, it’s astonishing to me and we are in a very bad position as a party.”

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) says party is in a very bad place after GOP votes against Jordan as their nominee: “I’m concerned about where we go from here.” pic.twitter.com/uSNPkwGLej

— CSPAN (@cspan) October 20, 2023

President Biden sent a $106 billion emergency funding request to Congress Friday. It would provide support for Ukraine, Israel, the Indo-Pacific region and border security. But it can’t be approved until the House elects a speaker. 

The clock is ticking.

Rep. Ann Wagner

Lawmakers went home for the weekend. They have expressed a sense of urgency to get a speaker elected but said it’s important to give potential candidates the proper time to talk it over with their families and make phone calls to solicit support.

“The clock is ticking.” Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., said. “And people, along with the members of this Republican conference, are growing impatient. We’ve got such a talent pool in our conference. I hope that a number of names will come forward.”

Democrats renewed their calls for Republicans to find a bipartisan speaker. They suggested possibly elevating a speaker pro tempore, which does not have to be Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C.

“There are many good men and women on the Republican side of the aisle who I believe are patriotic, they care about America, they care about our democracy, they care about the communities that they represent, who would be reasonable individuals to consider,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said.