Key Republican holdouts endorse Rep. Jordan for Speaker.

Republicans Rally ⁢Behind Jim Jordan for Speaker of ‌the⁤ House

House Armed Services Committee ‍Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.)⁢ and Rep. Ken Calvert‌ (R-Calif.), two ⁤Republicans who previously‍ said they would never back Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for the speakership, have now endorsed him.

On Oct. 13, prior to the closed-door meeting where Republicans nominated Mr. Jordan⁤ for the speakership, Mr. Rogers told reporters that ⁤there was‍ nothing Mr. Jordan could⁣ do⁤ to win his vote. Instead, ‍Mr. Rogers said he would be ⁢voting​ for Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.),‌ the ousted former speaker of ⁤the House.

Now, ‍in a thread posted to X, Mr. Rogers said he’s changed his mind, and will be backing Mr. Jordan‍ for the top spot in the House.

Related Stories

Top Republican:‍ ‘Deal Will ⁣Have to Be ‍Done’ With Democrats If GOP Can’t Elect House ‌Speaker

10/16/2023

McCarthy Confident Jim Jordan ​Will Be New House⁣ Speaker

10/16/2023

“[Jim Jordan] and I have had two cordial, thoughtful, and‍ productive conversations over the past two days,” Mr.‌ Rogers said. “We⁣ agreed on the need for Congress to pass a strong NDAA,⁣ appropriations to fund our​ government’s vital ​functions, and other important legislation like the ‌Farm Bill.

“As a ‌result, I have decided to support Jim Jordan for Speaker of the‍ House on the⁣ floor.”

Mr. Rogers added, “Since I was first ‍elected to the House, I have always been a ​team​ player and​ supported what the majority of the Republican⁤ Conference agrees‌ to. Together, our Republican majority will be stronger to fight⁣ Joe⁣ Biden’s ⁢reckless agenda for America.”

Mr. Calvert echoed the sentiment in another post to X.

“Keeping America safe is ⁣my top ⁤priority in Congress,” Mr. Calvert said. “After having a‍ conversation with ⁢Jim Jordan about how we must⁢ get​ the House back on a path to ‍achieve⁤ our national security and appropriations goals, I will be supporting him for Speaker on the floor. Let’s get to work.”

Earlier, Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.),​ another former holdout, also⁣ announced⁣ that he would back Mr. Jordan.

“House Republicans have suffered a total ⁣breakdown of party discipline. ‌A majority party is only a majority party when it votes as a majority,” Mr. McClintock wrote on‌ X. “McCarthy should never have been ousted, but​ now Jim Jordan is⁣ the majority’s choice and deserves the ‌vote of ‍every ‌Republican.”

Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) has also come out for Mr. Jordan after initial opposition.

“Jim Jordan and I spoke at length again​ this ⁤morning, and he has allayed my concerns about ​keeping⁣ the government open with conservative funding, the need for​ strong⁢ border security, our need for consistent international support in times of war and unrest, as well as the need for ‌stronger protections against the scourge of human trafficking and child exploitation,” Ms. Wagner‌ said in a ⁤statement.

“Jim Jordan is our conference nominee, and I will support his nomination for Speaker on the House floor.”

Challenges⁢ Remain

These flips represent substantial wins for Mr.​ Jordan, but he still has a way to go and several opponents to convince in⁢ his bid for the speakership.

Mr. Jordan is Republicans’ second nominee‌ for the gavel⁢ since Mr. McCarthy’s ouster nearly two‌ weeks ago, ⁢when ⁣eight Republicans joined all House Democrats to boot Mr.‍ McCarthy from the⁤ speaker’s chair.

Earlier, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) was nominated by his party for the position​ in a 111–99‌ vote, defeating Mr. Jordan. However, Mr. Scalise was later forced to withdraw his candidacy when‍ it became apparent that ⁤he would be unable to secure the necessary support to win the gavel.

Mr. Jordan’s nomination in ⁢a 124–81 vote on Friday revealed how ⁢deeply-divided House Republicans remain over his bid.

Rep. Austin ⁣Scott (R-Ga.), who announced his ⁢bid minutes before the conference and who⁣ had done no campaigning, nevertheless garnered the support of roughly 40 percent of Republicans present. Since then, Mr. Scott, as well as several of those who voted for ​him, have endorsed Mr. ⁢Jordan,⁢ yielding to the will of the conference.

But several opponents to ​Mr. Jordan’s⁢ bid remain.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who ‍serves ⁤alongside Mr. Rogers on the Armed Services Committee, said last week that he would need “to​ chew⁢ on it” when ⁢asked about whether ‌he’d support Mr. Jordan.

Rep. John Rutherford ⁣(R-Fla.) told The Epoch Times that he would absolutely refuse to support⁣ Mr. Jordan,‌ citing conference rules dictating that all members of the GOP Conference ‌must yield to​ the candidate​ nominated‌ by the majority for the speakership. Instead,‌ Mr. Rutherford said he would continue to support Mr. Scalise despite his dropping out.

Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) is calling on ⁢Republicans to empower Speaker pro tempore Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) ⁢with emergency powers while Republicans continue to deliberate on a speaker, suggesting he’s ⁣still ⁣not in Mr. Jordan’s camp.

Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) also reiterated on Oct. 16 that he remained opposed to ‌Mr.‍ Jordan.

Other opponents of Mr. ​Jordan have given no indication that they’ve changed their minds.

Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), Ken Buck ​(R-Colo.), and Vern Buchanan⁤ (R-Fla.) each seem ⁢unswayed ‍by Mr. ​Jordan’s electioneering, with attitudes toward the prospect of a “Speaker Jordan” ranging from skepticism to⁢ outright ⁤hostility.

To win the gavel, Mr. Jordan⁤ can only spare five votes, meaning he’ll‌ still need to whip up support among these holdouts to⁢ win the speakership.

Nevertheless, despite these challenges, Mr. McCarthy has said that‍ he ⁤is confident that Mr. Jordan will be ‍the next ‌speaker ‍of the House.

How does the endorsement from influential Republicans like Mike Rogers and⁤ Ken‍ Calvert ‌affect Jim Jordan’s chances of becoming the‍ next Speaker‍ of ⁣the House