House Speaker Vote Delayed as GOP Rep. Jim Jordan Backs Temporary Solution

According to two sources, there will be no vote for House speaker on Thursday. Instead, GOP Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio is supporting a plan to empower Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry to remain in the job temporarily and get the House back to work. Jordan plans to continue running for speaker until January while trying to gather more votes. Although some Democrats have also backed the idea, it remains uncertain whether there is enough support for temporarily expanding McHenry’s powers.

Republicans convened on Capitol Hill Thursday morning, but a third speaker vote was postponed after the House convened and immediately recessed. Jordan has faced difficulty securing enough support on two previous ballots, leading sources to believe that Republicans will stagger their votes against him to erode his support. Republican Rep. Ken Buck, who opposed Jordan in both ballots, stated that Jordan will continue to lose votes with each round of voting.

The House is currently in its third week without a leader, and the path forward for Republicans is unclear. GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin doubts that any member can attract the 217 votes needed to become speaker. He reiterated that he is not interested in running himself and emphasized his focus on national security and defense. Gallagher suggests going back to the drawing board if Jordan is not making progress and continues to lose support.

Despite the challenges, Jordan remains committed to running for speaker and intends to gather votes until January. Republicans have postponed the House speaker vote for today. Jordan supports a plan to temporarily empower Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry until January 3. On Wednesday, Jordan mentioned that McCarthy had a two-month runway for his speaker bid, referring to the time between the internal vote to nominate McCarthy and the formal vote on the House floor. The support for temporarily expanding McHenry’s powers is still uncertain, although some Democrats also favor the plan.

The Constitution does not address the authority of the House speaker or the situation of a vacant position. The process for replacing the speaker is outlined in the House rules, specifically House Rule 1, Clause 8. This rule was enacted after the 9/11 attacks to ensure the continuity of government. McHenry was designated as the Speaker pro tempore and given the authority to “act as” the speaker. The interpretation of McHenry’s authority is subject to debate, but it seems that the House has the power to determine what happens next.

Various proposals aim to empower McHenry and allow him to assume some of the powers of a permanent speaker for a short period. Jordan supports a plan to extend McHenry’s authority until January 3, while other proposals suggest different timeframes. Opponents of such arrangements are emerging among House Republicans, meaning that Democratic support may be necessary. However, the possibility of attracting a majority in the House remains uncertain.

Jordan’s decision to back the plan to temporarily empower McHenry is an acknowledgment that he is currently unable to secure the votes he needs. He lost 22 Republicans in the second round of voting, two more than in the first round. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who voted for Rep. Kay Granger in the second ballot, cited death threats and threatening calls as her reasons for calling for a consensus candidate to be the next speaker.

When asked about the death threats received by Miller-Meeks and others, Jordan condemned the threats and stated that there is no place for such behavior. Some lawmakers have complained about Jordan’s allies, who have attacked the Republican holdouts. Jordan has previously condemned all threats against colleagues. However, he has been relying on the support of right-wing groups and activists to win over undecided Republicans. Activists have been pressuring Republicans voting against Jordan through phone calls and office visits.

While Jordan has indicated that there will be a vote on Thursday afternoon and a GOP conference meeting beforehand, plans can change rapidly in the House. The timing of the vote is still uncertain. Rep. Ken Buck believes that Jordan will continue to lose votes with each attempt, and he suggests a temporary speakership to break the impasse. Buck proposes two possible outcomes: Majority Leader Steve Scalise becoming speaker with Jordan as majority leader or a temporary speakership held by Rep. Patrick McHenry.

As the House speaker vote remains postponed, the Republican party faces challenges in determining the path forward. It is unclear whether the plan to temporarily empower McHenry will gather enough support, and the possibility of a consensus candidate or an alternative solution is being discussed.