House GOP Members Remain Divided in Speaker Battle on Capitol Hill

Four House Republicans who previously voted against Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, in the House speaker race on Tuesday have indicated that they will continue to do so. This puts Jordan in a precarious position as he cannot afford to lose any more GOP members in order to secure victory. In the initial round of voting, Jordan fell 17 votes short of the 217 votes needed to win the gavel, with 20 GOP lawmakers voting against him.

While more than four votes in opposition would sink Jordan in the second round, a strong improvement could potentially put him in a position to prevail in subsequent rounds. However, Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., who originally voted for Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., has not changed his stance on Jordan, according to his office. Buck had previously expressed concerns about Jordan’s support for former President Trump’s claims regarding the 2020 election.

Furthermore, Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., remains committed to voting for ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on the House floor. His spokesperson confirmed that Gimenez’s position has not changed. Gimenez also expressed support for a GOP initiative to temporarily empower interim Speaker Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., to pass legislation while House Republicans work to reach a consensus on a candidate.

Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., also voiced support for the McHenry effort in comments made on CNN. LaLota had cast his vote on Tuesday for former New York GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin. Additionally, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., is still voting against Jordan on Wednesday, as confirmed by his spokesperson. Diaz-Balart had voted for Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.

It is worth noting that House lawmakers are voting again on Wednesday, and Jordan and his allies have been engaging in discussions with holdouts. However, the progress made in swaying votes remains unclear. One of the 20 lawmakers who previously voted against Jordan, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., did tell reporters on Tuesday that he would vote for Jordan on the second ballot. Rep. Ken Buck is also expected to vote against Jordan on Wednesday.

Nevertheless, Jordan faces the risk of losing even more support, including from his own supporters. Freedom Caucus Chair Scott Perry, R-Pa., acknowledged that Jordan is likely to have fewer votes on the second round. He emphasized that the battle Jordan represents, to end the status quo, is not an easy one and called for strength and prayers.

In conclusion, the Speaker battle among House Republicans continues to show divisions within the party. As voting progresses, it remains to be seen whether Jordan can rally enough support to secure victory or if another candidate will emerge as the preferred choice for House Speaker.