House Republicans are planning to hold a full House vote Tuesday on electing a Speaker, but their nominee, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), is still working to lock down support. Jordan won the nomination with 124 votes within the GOP conference and then claimed 152 votes when members were asked if they would support him on the House floor — leaving him short of the 217 votes he needs to get the gavel. In Friday’s secret vote, 55 House Republicans said that they would not cast ballots for Jordan in the full floor vote, calling into question his ability to actually reach the required 217 votes. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) said he now backs Jordan for the position, and former President Donald Trump endorsed Jordan early in the race for speaker, which could work both for and against his chances. As of this morning, Jordan is still facing at least 10 to 20 holdouts with some people pegging the number as high as 40, although he did pick up three votes this morning. A faction of House Republicans that strongly opposes Jordan is vowing he’ll have a challenger during the floor vote and Representative Mike Johnson, (R-Louisiana), a member of the GOP leadership team, plans to jump into the race if Jordan can’t secure the 217 votes needed on the House floor. Republicans are expected to meet again behind closed doors Monday evening at 6:30 P.M. to try to prevent an embarrassing multi round series of votes on the House Floor tomorrow.
If Jordan is able to secure the votes to become speaker Tuesday, it would put an end to a chaotic and unprecedented two weeks in the House following McCarthy’s ouster. Without a speaker, the House is unable to pass legislation despite the international crises and a government shutdown exactly month away, though some members have explored empowering interim Speaker Patrick McHenry, (R-North Carolina) who was appointed to the position following McCarthy’s ousting. But if Jordan is unable to corral enough support to win a floor vote, Republicans would be back at square one, leaving the House in a speakerless paralysis.
The Senate will reconvene at 3:00 P.M. and is scheduled to be in session for five weeks. Following Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session for the consideration of the nomination of Jennifer L. Hall to be United States District Judge for the District of Delaware. At 5:30 P.M. the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Hall nomination.
