This afternoon, Republican Representative Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) again failed to win the House speaker’s gavel in a second vote, drawing less support than in an initial vote the day before. The loss raises serious questions over whether the Ohio Republican has a viable path forward as he confronts steep opposition and the House remains in a state of paralysis for the 15th day. During the first round of voting on Tuesday, 20 House Republicans voted against Jordan. On Wednesday, that number rose to 22, as opposition has grown. There were four new Republican votes against Jordan and two that flipped into his column. The four House Republicans who initially supported Jordan in the first round of voting who flipped and voted for an alternative candidate in a massive setback for his speaker bid are: Vern Buchanen (R-Florida), Mike Kelly (R-Pennsylvania), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) and Pete Stauber, (R-Minnesota). Of note, Kelly voted for former House Speaker John Boehner. Following his second defeat on the floor, Jordan said that he never backs way from a fight and is dug in on pressing ahead through multiple rounds of votes and told reporters he is still deciding if there will be another vote later today.
As pressure grows on Republicans to find a way out of the leadership crisis, some are pushing to expand the powers of the interim speaker, Republican Representative Patrick McHenry (North Carolina). Republicans are discussing the possibility of bringing forward a resolution to empower McHenry as soon as Wednesday afternoon which would need Democratic support since many Republicans oppose the idea. The move could give Democrats an opportunity to seek some concessions from Republicans in exchange for their votes. Any effort to empower McHenry would require a House vote needing the same majority vote as electing a speaker. Some Democrats have suggested they would want assurances that McHenry would allow votes on bipartisan spending bills, aide to Ukraine, and other measures that could pass.
The Senate convened today at 10:30 A.M. and is considering a joint resolution (S.J.Res. 32) providing congressional disapproval for a rule submitted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau relating to the “Small Business Lending Under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B).”
