House GOP Drops Jordan as Speaker Nominee in Secret-Ballot Vote

House Republicans voted to drop Jim Jordan as their speaker nominee in a secret-ballot vote on Friday, October 20, 2023, shortly after he failed to secure the gavel in a floor vote for the third time this week.

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Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) stands on the floor of the House of Representatives after it became clear he would once again fail to win the Speaker’s gavel during a third round of voting in Washington, D.C., October 20, 2023. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Jordan, a hard-right Republican from Ohio, was a close ally of former President Donald Trump and played a leading role in the effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. He was also one of the few Republicans who publicly supported Trump's claims that the election had been stolen.

Jordan's candidacy for Speaker was met with opposition from moderate Republicans, who were concerned about his ties to Trump and his role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. They also expressed concerns about his temperament and his ability to lead the House.

In the secret-ballot vote, 86 Republicans voted for Jordan to remain as the nominee, while 112 voted for him to drop out. This was a significant setback for Jordan, who had been the frontrunner for the speakership for months.

The vote to drop Jordan as the nominee came after he failed to secure the 218 votes needed to win the speakership in three consecutive floor votes. Jordan received 192 votes in the first vote, 193 votes in the second vote, and 194 votes in the third vote.

It is unclear who will replace Jordan as the Republican nominee for Speaker. Some of the other contenders include House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, and Congressmen Andy Biggs and Jim Banks.

The House is now at an impasse, with no clear path forward for electing a new Speaker. Republicans will need to find a candidate who can unite the party and secure the 218 votes needed to win the speakership.

Analysis

The decision by House Republicans to drop Jim Jordan as their speaker nominee is a significant setback for the far-right wing of the Republican Party. Jordan was a close ally of former President Donald Trump and a leading figure in the effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. His candidacy for Speaker was met with opposition from moderate Republicans, who were concerned about his ties to Trump and his role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

The vote to drop Jordan as the nominee also reflects the deep divisions within the Republican Party. The party is split between those who remain loyal to Trump and those who want to move on from him. It is unclear how the party will be able to unite behind a new speaker candidate.