Pinned
Luke Broadwater
Reporting from the Capitol
Here’s what to know about the speaker fight.
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Republicans cast aside their latest nominee for House speaker on Friday, rejecting Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio during a secret ballot vote, leaving them once again to search for a new leader amid raging personal and political recriminations.
The rejection came hours after Mr. Jordan, his support ebbing, failed on a third floor vote to win the speakership. His defeat left the party with no consensus on a way forward and the chamber paralyzed in the face of growing pressure to get back to business as war raged overseas and a government shutdown grew nearer.
After his colleagues then voted to withdraw Mr. Jordan’s nomination, about a dozen House Republicans, few of them household names, quickly began making calls and exploring bids for speaker.
“We need to come together and figure out who our speaker is going to be,” Mr. Jordan said, acknowledging his defeat. He said he would turn his focus back to the investigations he is leading into the Biden administration as chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
Republicans planned to meet Monday to figure out their next steps and hear from new candidates. But the party ended the week with no signs of having healed any of the deep divisions that have left it essentially dysfunctional.
Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida said Mr. Jordan was “knifed by secret ballot, anonymously, in a closed-door meeting in the bowels of the Capitol.”
He added, “This was truly swamp tactics on display.”
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The rise and fall of Mr. Jordan, a favorite of former President Donald J. Trump, capped an extraordinary 18 days of paralysis and chaos in the House that began when hard-right rebels loyal to Mr. Jordan — and led by Mr. Gaetz — deposed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and then a wider group blocked Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 2 Republican.
“Unfortunately, Jim is no longer going to be the nominee,” Mr. McCarthy said. “We will have to go back to the drawing board.”
“I’m concerned about where we go from here,” he added.
In an unusual twist, it was a group of 25 mainstream Republicans who stood in opposition to Mr. Jordan’s speaker bid on Friday, showing that they could operate as a bloc to influence the course of a party that has moved increasingly rightward and takes its cues from Mr. Trump and his followers.
There is no consensus among Republicans about an alternative to Mr. Jordan. Republicans have already shown resistance to a temporary solution that would give Representative Patrick T. McHenry of North Carolina, who is acting as speaker pro tempore, the authority to run the House for a few months.
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Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the Republican whip, began making calls about his bid for speaker, according to a person familiar with his activities. A spokesman for Mr. McCarthy said Mr. Emmer had the backing of the former speaker.
Representative Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, the chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, Representative Byron Donalds of Florida, Representative Jack Bergman of Michigan and Representative Austin Scott of Georgia also announced their candidacies.
“We just had two speaker-designates go down,” Mr. Hern said. “We must unify and do it fast.”
Mr. Scott had run previously against Mr. Jordan, but fell short.
“If we are going to be the majority we need to act like the majority, and that means we have to do the right things the right way,” Mr. Scott wrote on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. “I supported and voted for Rep. Jim Jordan to be the Speaker of the House. Now that he has withdrawn I am running again to be the Speaker of the House.”
Republicans immediately began suggesting other possibilities as well, including Mr. McHenry, Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Scalise. Other names included Representative Tom Cole of Oklahoma, the Rules Committee chairman, and Representative Jodey C. Arrington of Texas, the Budget Committee chairman, who said he was considering a run.
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The unending discord among the chamber’s Republicans only appeared more consequential as President Biden asked Congress to take up a $105 billion package that would provide security assistance to Ukraine and Israel in the midst of wars there while also giving more money to Taiwan and an infusion of funds to help deter migration across the border with Mexico.
Mr. Jordan, a co-founder of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, began Friday by pushing ahead with the vote despite clear signs that he would fall short. The outcome showed that he had actually lost ground, with 25 Republicans opposing him, compared with the 22 who voted against him on his last try on Wednesday. Needing 215 votes to win, he received 194.
Three Republicans from swing districts won by Mr. Biden in 2020 — Representatives Marc Molinaro of New York, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Thomas H. Kean Jr. of New Jersey — abandoned Mr. Jordan after supporting him earlier.
In a secret ballot after the floor vote, the opposition to Mr. Jordan grew, and 112 Republicans voted to reject him as their party’s candidates for speaker.
Many of those opposed to Mr. Jordan were angry at the way some of his allies treated Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Scalise. Backers of Mr. Jordan failed to rally around Mr. Scalise for speaker after he drew support from a majority of Republicans in a conference vote.
Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee said on Friday that it was “absurd” that Republicans were going home for the weekend instead of restarting the process immediately. He added that a majority of the members in the conference shouted “No!” when the schedule was announced.
“We’re not done, and we shouldn’t be leaving,” he said.
Catie Edmondson, Kayla Guo and Robert Jimison contributed reporting.
Oct. 20, 2023, 4:05 p.m. ET
Luke Broadwater
Reporting from the Capitol
A spokesman for Kevin McCarthy says he is endorsing Tom Emmer, the Republican whip, as the next speaker.
Oct. 20, 2023, 3:59 p.m. ET
Catie Edmondson
Reporting from the Capitol
About a dozen lawmakers have said they are running or strongly considering a run for the speakership, and some of them have, in fact, already received votes on the House floor in the last week, including Tom Emmer, the No. 3 House Republican, and Byron Donalds of Florida.
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Oct. 20, 2023, 3:40 p.m. ET
Ben Shpigel
So far, the Republican candidates for speaker include Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Austin Scott of Georgia, Jack Bergman of Michigan and Byron Donalds of Florida.
Oct. 20, 2023, 3:37 p.m. ET
Luke Broadwater
Reporting from the Capitol
Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana is making calls about a potential speaker bid, according to a spokeswoman.
Oct. 20, 2023, 3:31 p.m. ET
Representative Byron Donalds of Florida is entering the race for speaker, his office said.
Oct. 20, 2023, 3:28 p.m. ET
Luke Broadwater
Reporting from the Capitol
Representative Jack Bergman of Michigan announces a run for speaker on X.
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Oct. 20, 2023, 3:24 p.m. ET
Luke Broadwater
Reporting from the Capitol
Another speaker candidate, Representative Austin Scott of Georgia, announces his candidacy on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Oct. 20, 2023, 3:11 p.m. ET
Luke Broadwater
Reporting from the Capitol
Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the No. 3 House Republican, has begun making calls about a bid for speaker, according to a person familiar with the matter.
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Oct. 20, 2023, 2:57 p.m. ET
Nick Nehamas
Speaking to reporters on Friday after a campaign event in South Carolina, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida accused House Republicans of engaging in “palace intrigue” instead of “delivering results.”
“Look, I think it’s unfortunate that these guys can’t get their act together,” said Mr. DeSantis, a Republican running for president who once served in the House. “It’s like the gang that can’t shoot straight. They’ve been running around like chickens with their heads cut off. It’s not inspiring confidence. There’s a lot of theater.”
Oct. 20, 2023, 2:43 p.m. ET
Carl Hulse
Reporting from the Capitol
Basically, Republicans are going back to the drawing board in their search for a speaker. That opens up the door to numerous contenders, starting with McCarthy, Scalise and McHenry if they are interested, along with some House Republicans who are far from household names.
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Oct. 20, 2023, 2:39 p.m. ET
Kayla Guo
Reporting from the Capitol
Representative Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, the temporary speaker, said House Republicans would return Monday night for a candidate forum, with the goal of bringing a nominee to a floor vote on Tuesday — a schedule some denounced as too delayed. But McHenry said he set that schedule because “we need space and time for candidates to talk to other members.” He added, “It’s fair to say that Leader Scalise wasn’t given adequate time.”
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Oct. 20, 2023, 2:42 p.m. ET
Kayla Guo
Reporting from the Capitol
McHenry added that committees were still working, including the Armed Services, Appropriations and Intelligence panels, which have been briefed on the Biden administration’s aid request for Israel. “The goal there for our committees is to be ready to respond legislatively once we have a duly elected speaker of the House,” he said. “And it’s my goal to be talking to you at this time next Friday as chairman of the Financial Services Committee.”
Oct. 20, 2023, 2:25 p.m. ET
Catie Edmondson
Reporting from the Capitol
Representative Marc Molinaro of New York, who voted against Jordan on the third ballot, said that Jordan told his fellow Republicans after the vote that if they wanted to start the process over, he would support their decision. He received a standing ovation.
Oct. 20, 2023, 2:19 p.m. ET
Kayla Guo
Reporting from the Capitol
Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee said it was “absurd” that Republicans were going home for the weekend instead of restarting the process immediately. He added that a majority of the members in the conference shouted “No!” when the schedule was announced. “We’re not done, and we shouldn’t be leaving,” he said.
Oct. 20, 2023, 2:17 p.m. ET
Catie Edmondson
Reporting from the Capitol
Meanwhile, it’s hard to overstate how spitting mad conservatives are. Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida says Jordan was “knifed by secret ballot, anonymously, in a closed-door meeting in the bowels of the Capitol.” Gaetz says, “This was truly swamp tactics on display.”
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Oct. 20, 2023, 2:14 p.m. ET
Catie Edmondson
Reporting from the Capitol
Representative Jen Kiggans of Virginia, who had voted against Jordan, calls the vote to remove him as the party’s nominee for speaker a “step in the right direction” and says, “We’ve got to find a way to unify and go forward.”
Oct. 20, 2023, 2:14 p.m. ET
Catie Edmondson
Reporting from the Capitol
Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, second from right, is bemoaning Jordan’s defeat, saying Jordan was the only lawmaker who could keep the right flank of the party in line.
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Oct. 20, 2023, 2:13 p.m. ET
Kayla Guo
Reporting from the Capitol
Representative Kevin Hern of Oklahoma said he would run for the speakership. His name had been floated when it became clear Jordan didn’t have the votes. Hern said he brought a “different perspective” and believed he could unite the conference.
Oct. 20, 2023, 2:12 p.m. ET
Catie Edmondson
Reporting from the Capitol
There’s lots of chatter about Representative Byron Donalds of Florida potentially running for the speakership. He said he “didn’t know” what he’d do, but he didn’t rule it out.
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Oct. 20, 2023, 2:07 p.m. ET
Luke Broadwater
Reporting from the Capitol
“We will have to go back to the drawing board,” former Speaker Kevin McCarthy says.
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Oct. 20, 2023, 2:05 p.m. ET
Catie Edmondson
Reporting from the Capitol
There will be another candidate forum on Monday night to determine the next speaker nominee, says Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.
Oct. 20, 2023, 2:04 p.m. ET
Catie Edmondson
Reporting from the Capitol
Jordan addressed lawmakers afterward and was “very gracious,” Representative Pat Fallon of Texas said.
Oct. 20, 2023, 2:03 p.m. ET
Luke Broadwater
Reporting from the Capitol
Jim Jordan has lost an up-or-down vote in conference, several members say.
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Oct. 20, 2023, 9:48 a.m. ET
Annie Karni
Some Republicans fear Jordan’s speaker bid could mean electoral doom.
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A dozen G.O.P. lawmakers who represent congressional districts that President Biden won in 2020 have stood on the House floor this week and cast their votes to put Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio second in line to the presidency.
So far, that effort has failed, as Mr. Jordan, the hard-right co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, has been unable to garner enough support within his own party to become speaker of the House. And the infighting hasn’t just damaged the G.O.P. brand and left one chamber of Congress paralyzed for more than two weeks — it’s raising the chances that Democrats could win back the majority next year.
Democratic challengers now have ample ammunition for their campaign narrative, which casts Republicans as right-wing extremists who are unfit to govern.
“It hurts the country; it hurts the Congress; it’s hurting our party,” said Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, one of 18 Republicans who represent districts won by Mr. Biden in 2020. “It’s putting us in a bad hole for next November.”
He said his hard-right colleagues who moved to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier this month and touched off the intractable scramble to replace him “want to be in the minority. I think they would prefer that. So they can just vote no and just yell and scream all the time.”
Mr. Bacon opposed Mr. Jordan’s candidacy, but he and other mainstream G.O.P. lawmakers worry that, no matter who is ultimately elected speaker, the Ohio Republican’s nomination has only boosted Democrats’ efforts to tie them to the most hard-right members of their party, placing their seats at risk in 2024.
In a speech on the House floor on Tuesday to nominate Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader, for the speaker post, Representative Pete Aguilar of California, the No. 3 House Democrat, laid out a case against Mr. Jordan that could have doubled as a template for a campaign attack ad against any Republican who supported him.
“A vote today to make the architect of a nationwide abortion ban, a vocal election denier and an insurrection inciter to the speaker of this House would be a terrible message to the country and our allies,” Mr. Aguilar said.
