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The House has been called into session.
Jordan says House must choose between Republican speaker or coalition with Democrats
Jordan told reporters that there will be a vote for speaker today with his name on the ballot, followed by a resolution for McHenry to be empowered as speaker pro tempore. He said empowering McHenry would be done with Democrats.
Jordan said he met with GOP leadership today and said to “put both questions to the body today," as his attitude is, "let's just get an answer."
"Are we going to elect a Republican speaker? Or are we going to have coalition government, where Democrats are involved in selecting the speaker?" Jordan said.
Jordan added that he believes the American people would "prefer" if the "majority party elected a Republican Speaker."
5 things to know about Jim Jordan and his bid to be House speaker
Jordan is the only candidate in the race for House speaker, but he’s still struggling to win enough support from rank-and-file Republicans to get elected in a formal floor vote.
Jordan, 59, threw his name into the ring after the House ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as speaker this month. Since House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., failed to garner sufficient backing, Jordan has been the remaining contender for speaker.
Here are five key things to know about Jordan.
House speaker vote at 11 a.m. Wednesday at earliest
The move comes after a failed first round of voting on Jordan for speaker.
Jordan says empowering McHenry is not the 'way to go'
Jordan said that empowering Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., to be speaker pro tempore is not the "right way to go."
Several Republicans and some Democrats have been floating the idea to keep McHenry in a temporary speaker position and Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, plans to introduce that idea to the floor today.
Jordan told reporters today that "90%" of Republicans supported him. He seemed to suggest that McHenry would only be able to get to power with Democratic votes, saying "I think we should get a Republican speaker."
Jordan said, "I hope so," when asked if he would pick up more support on the second ballot today.
How a vote to elect McHenry as speaker pro tem would work
As the House passes the two-week mark without a speaker, several Republicans and some Democrats have floated the idea of electing Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., as speaker pro tempore, essentially expanding his powers so that the House can continue legislative business until a permanent speaker is chosen.
While the House is in uncharted territory with a speaker ousted from office, there is precedent for electing a speaker pro tempore. On several occasions, especially in the 20th century, the House voted to elect temporary speakers during short absences of the permanent speaker.
In March 1966, Speaker John McCormack, a Democrat, left D.C. for a few days to address the Massachusetts Legislature. At his request, the House voted on a resolution that said Rep. Carl Albert of Oklahoma “is hereby, elected Speaker pro tempore during the absence of The Speaker.” When McCormack returned, Albert’s time as speaker pro tempore ended.
A House vote to elect McHenry as speaker pro tempore might look similar to this, although it could specify that his powers extend only until a certain date. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., already has drafted a resolution that would elect McHenry as speaker pro tempore through Nov. 17 (when government funding expires) or until the House elects a new speaker.
In addition to Kelly, there are several Republicans on board with the idea of formalizing McHenry’s powers, including Reps. Ken Buck of Colorado, Dave Joyce of Ohio, Carlos Gimenez and Mario Diaz-Balart, both of Florida, and Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon.
“I think one of the options is to have a 30-day speaker,” Buck said yesterday on MSNBC. “Patrick McHenry would be the logical choice for that.”
When asked last night if he was interested in becoming speaker pro tempore, McHenry said he was committed to getting Jordan elected. “I voted for speaker designate Jordan on the House floor and It should be Jim Jordan,” he said. “I supported Steve Scalise before, I support Jim Jordan now. We need to get this done.”
GOP Rep. Dave Joyce to introduce resolution to elect Patrick McHenry as speaker pro tem
Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, plans to introduce a resolution today to elect Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., as speaker pro tempore.
“After two weeks without a speaker of the House and no clear candidate with 217 votes in the Republican conference, it is time to look at other viable options," Joyce told NBC News. "By empowering Patrick McHenry as speaker pro tempore we can take care of our ally Israel until a new speaker is elected.”
Punchbowl News first reported that Joyce could move to elect McHenry as speaker pro tem, which would happen after the expected 11 a.m. vote.
Congressman's wife received anonymous texts pressuring him to vote for Jordan
Before Jordan suffered defeat yesterday, the wife of Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., received multiple anonymous messages warning him to back Jordan’s speakership bid or risk being ousted. Bacon voted for ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., yesterday, joining 19 other Republicans in voting against Jordan.
“Your husband will not hold any political office ever again. What a disappoint [sic] and failure he is,” an anonymous sender said in a text that Bacon shared with NBC News. Bacon’s wife pushed back, writing: “He has more courage than you. You won’t put your name to your statements.”
Another text by an anonymous sender said, “Why is your husband causing chaos by not supporting Jim Jordan? I thought he was a team player.” Bacon’s wife replied: “Who is this???”
In a separate text message, another anonymous sender wrote: “Talk to your husband tell him to step up and be a leader and help the Republican Party get a speaker there’s too much going on in the world for all this going on in the Republican Party you guys take five steps forward and then turn around take 20 steps backwards no wonder our party always ends up getting screwed over.”
Jordan has distanced himself from some of the hardball tactics of his allies and supporters — some of whom have engaged in a very public pressure campaign online and in conservative media against his political opponents. That pressure campaign is clearly not having the desired effect, with Jordan losing 20 Republican votes on Tuesday and poised to potentially lose still more in a second ballot today.
“Jordan is headed for defeat. He’ll fight to death likely, and we won’t let off. Their tactics angered us. They’re harassing our spouses even. Jordan hit a brick wall,” Bacon texted to NBC News.
Politico was first to report the anonymous texts to Bacon’s wife.
Jordan supporter warns of more defections
A GOP lawmaker who supports Jordan said after yesterday's vote that as many as five or six Republicans who backed him on the first ballot won't support him on the second, which means Jordan’s list of defectors could grow rather than shrink.
Here's how House Republicans voted in the first round
Twenty Republicans broke with Jordan on the first ballot, selecting former Speaker McCarthy, Scalise and others.