Jim Jordan falls short a second time; House speaker vote still looms

Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., said the mood on the House floor was "hectic" and "a bit chaotic."

Speaking to reporters as he left the Capitol tonight, McHenry said a speaker vote at noon tomorrow is not set in stone.

Asked whether a vote then is definite, McHenry said: "It’s not, but we wanted to have the option to go to the floor."

Jordan had told reporters that the next vote was likely at noon tomorrow.

McHenry also said his “effort is focused on getting Jim Jordan the speakership.”

Speaking with reporters on Air Force One today, President Joe Biden was asked whether he had a response to Jordan's predicament in the House.

"I ache for him," Biden responded sarcastically.

"No," he added. "Zero. None."

Republicans expect to hold their next speaker vote at noon tomorrow, Jordan told reporters.

He reiterated once again that he is willing to keep going “until we get a speaker” and that he believes he will be that speaker.

The House is not planning to hold any more votes today, Jordan told reporters in the Capitol.

He deferred when asked whether House Republicans will meet today.

McHenry is now back in the speaker's office. “I’m focused on getting our speaker designate across the floor and into the speaker’s chair,” he said when asked whether Jordan should drop out.

House Republicans had planned to hold a meeting when the chamber recessed earlier, but so far, the meeting room remains empty, and there are no signs of a meeting.

Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., just emerged from the room off the floor where McHenry has been since the House recessed. Hudson said it is “not clear” whether the full conference will meet today. Up to the speaker designee, he said.

Jordan’s 199 votes mark the first time in 100 years that the majority nominee has gotten less than 200 votes. In 1923, Frederick H. Gillett, R-Mass., got 197 votes on the first ballot, and it took him eight more rounds of voting to eventually win.

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said he would not support a resolution to empower Patrick McHenry as speaker pro tempore.

"Why would we do that? We’ll empower him for what, two months, and then the last day before we'll start saying, 'Oh, hey, we need to elect a new speaker?'" Burchett said.

"It's not anything against him. I'm not a fan of bow ties," Burchett said, joking about the neck attire that McHenry often wears.

Burchett seemed confident in a third round of voting, saying Jordan is "individually meeting with the people addressing their concerns."  

Gimenez said he voted for McCarthy again today because the House needs "to get the right speaker, not a quick speaker."

"If you put the wrong speaker in for short-term kind of game, you’re going to end up in a long, long run not benefiting, so I want to make sure we have the right speaker," Gimenez said.

“I know who the right speaker is. That’s who I voted for,” he added.

Gimenez said he spoke to Jordan yesterday and "he knows exactly where I stand."

Gimenez said he believes Jordan is behind robocalls targeting voters in his district and was unsatisfied with Jordan's response. 

"I told him I don’t really take well to threats,” Gimenez said.

Democrats are discussing whether to support a resolution that would give McHenry some temporary powers and let the chamber function, according to two sources familiar with the meeting.

Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., suggested that it’s time for Republicans to have a retreat far outside of the Beltway and away from lobbyists and reporters.

“If I was in a leadership position, I would take us off site somewhere. It sounds silly, but let’s go to Gettysburg or something,” he told reporters. “Let’s go to somewhere that is meaningful to our nation’s history so that the Republican Party can once again remember why we do what we do.”

Garcia added that he is fed up with the “politics and drama” that has ensued, saying he is in office to serve the people of the nation.

“So I think all members need to be reminded of that once in awhile, so let’s go do an off-site somewhere where there’s historical importance -- Manassas or somewhere else -- to remind us of why we fight these fights and why we are actually in this job,” he said.

McCarthy told reporters this afternoon that the speaker suite is all ready to be handed off when he was asked about how long he would stay in the space.

"Oh, it's all cleaned out. I'm just waiting for them to elect somebody," McCarthy said.

"I moved all my paintings. I got a few tape marks of where to move my furniture next.”

Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas told reporters that he believes going to a third vote will be the "final straw," making the process of electing a new speaker even more difficult.

"I personally think that if we go to a third vote it’s gonna get worse. It could get a lot worse. Because people are, I think, most rational thinkers are believing that wow, the number grew, and he had all that time to kind of work on him," Womack said.

Womack said that "there's a chance" the conference would consider empowering McHenry as speaker pro tempore, to "give him an opportunity to at least start moving the House so that we can take that pressure off of the House in this decision."

When asked if he believed McHenry actually wanted to be empowered, Womack said he thinks McHenry would "do a fine job."

"He's a good guy. He's capable, but he's got a young family. And so it's a major time consequence for him. I think, you know, I can't speak for Patrick. I think Patrick would do a fine job," Womack said.

Jordan told NBC News that he is "right where Speaker McCarthy was in this process," following his second failed ballot for speaker.

"We're just going to keep talking to members," Jordan said.

While the GOP plans for what’s next remain in flux, House Democrats just added a members-only meeting at 2 p.m., per an invite obtained by NBC News. 

Following his second loss, Jordan said he is not going to be dropping his nomination for speaker.

"We picked up some today, a couple dropped off, but they voted for me before I think they can come back again. So we'll keep talking to members and keep working on it," Jordan said.

Jordan also said he still believes he is the one person who can bring House Republicans together.

He said he is not yet sure when the next vote will be.

Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., who voted for Scalise instead of Jordan yesterday and today, said the House needs “a little divine intervention right now.”

Asked what the consequences are for the House being unable to function without a speaker, Womack said the chamber has ceded its “ability to do what we need to be doing to others, to the Senate, to the White House.”

“This House needs a little help, needs a little divine intervention right now,” he said.

Womack also defended Jordan defectors such as Rep. Jake Ellzey of Texas, who voted Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., for speaker twice thus far.

“When you’re attacking those kinds of people that just simply will not work,” Womack said, adding: “So think of the distinction between being opposed to somebody because you want something, and being opposed to somebody because you are a principled conservative.”

Twenty-two House Republicans broke with Jordan on the second vote, two more than yesterday.

Will Knight, one of the former Ohio State University wrestlers who say Jordan failed to protect them from a sexual predator when he was assistant wrestling coach, said the congressman's failure to win over members of his own party is proof that he's more of a divider than a uniter.

"He had an opportunity to help us and all he did was divide us," Knight said of his former teammates, many of whom now oppose Jordan. "The same thing is happening today."

With Jim Jordan having lost a second vote for the speakership, House Republicans are intending to recess shortly after this vote and go to a conference meeting, according to three sources familiar with the planning. 

Most members are still in the dark about a path forward, as are many aides involved in this process. It’s possible we could soon see additional resolution(s) on this point. 

But the most immediate step appears to be yet another GOP family meeting. 

Jordan has lost the second round of votes to become speaker. He received only 199 votes, one less than yesterday, after losing supporters.

It appears all the tallying is done and lots of chatter is happening. But McHenry still hasn't announced the vote, which is needed to formally conclude.

Hours before the vote, Spartz wrote a post on X criticizing Jordan.

"Jim is elected by members and accountable to members from very diverse districts, so coercion and intimidation is not a good idea," she said. "Before you coronate Jim please assess if he was effective for you or for McCarthy as Judiciary Chair."

Last night, she vowed to vote present or for another member instead of Jordan. But today she ended up voting for Jordan anyway.

Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., voted for Jordan, a flip after she voted for Massie yesterday.

Last night, she criticized Jordan in a tweet and said she planned to "vote present or propose another name, if needed procedurally, until Jim reconciles with members."

Rep. Pete Stauber, R-Minn., voted for Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark. He voted for Jordan in the first round.

Rep. Michael Simpson, R-Ind., voted for Scalise for the second time.

Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., voted for Scalise.

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, voted for Rep. Kay Granger of Texas for speaker after voting for Jordan yesterday.

Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-N.Y. voted for Jim Jordan after voting for Kevin McCarthy in the first round. 

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., voted for "Speaker Kevin McCarthy."

Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., voted for Lee Zeldin for the second time.

Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., voted for McCarthy again.

Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., voted for former Speaker John Boehner. The choice drew laughter from Democrats.

Rep. John James, R-Mich., voted for former Rep. Candice Miller of Michigan.

Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, voted for Steve Scalise for the second time.

Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Fla., again voted against Jordan. He was the 11th Republican to do so.

Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla, voted for Kevin McCarthy for the second time.

Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., voted for Lee Zeldin for the second time.

Rep. Jake Ellzey, R-Texas, voted for Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., for the second time.

Drew Ferguson of Georgia voted for Scalise, another flip against Jordan.

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., voted for Scalise.

Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y., voted for Lee Zeldin for the second time.

Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., voted for Jeffies, yelling, “No election deniers."

Four House Republicans have now voted for someone other than Jordan, meaning he will likely lack the votes needed to win the speakership. Lawmakers can still change their vote before it is completed.

Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., voted for Kevin McCarthy for the second time.

Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., again voted against Jordan, casting his vote for Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn.

Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., voted for Donalds — flipping his vote yesterday supporting Jordan.

In a statement explaining his vote for Donalds, Buchanan praised Donalds as a “conservative champion.”

“We’re going to have to solve this race quickly,” he said. “I’ve served with Byron, he’s a conservative champion, and I hope my colleagues will consider his name as we look for a way forward. It’s about time Florida had a seat at the table.”

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., voted for Kevin McCarthy for the second time.

The House has begun voting.

Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., nominated Jeffries for speaker.

"While the Republican candidate for speaker is making late night backroom deals to secure the gavel, Leader Jeffries has once again extended the hand of bipartisanship for a path forward," he said. "One thing was very clear yesterday: the vote total [was] 212 to 200. The people's house has spoken and leader Jeffries has the support to be speaker that this country needs."

Aguilar slammed Jordan as a speaker candidate who “supports an extreme agenda and is hell-bent on banning abortion nationwide, gutting Medicare, gutting Social Security and giving cover to January 6 attackers.”

“Those aren’t the values that we share,” he said.

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., gave the nominating speech for Jordan. Cole received one vote for speaker in the first round from Rep. John James, R-Mich.

In his speech, Cole referred to his opposition to the motion to vacate that ousted McCarthy, saying that at the time he had said that the absence of a speaker would "put the Congress in the state of chaos and the country into a state of uncertainty," and that "the last two weeks have vindicated that observation."

Cole praised Jordan's directness and his "spine of steel" and emphasized Jordan's work on the border. He received a bipartisan standing ovation for his emphasis of the House's support of Israel and its right to self defense.

He is a fellow Ohio Republican who replaced former Speaker John Boehner after he resigned from Congress in 2015.

Davidson, a retired Army captain, was the first primary candidate endorsed by the House Freedom Fund, the political arm of the House Freedom Caucus that was co-founded by Jordan.

Davidson later joined the Freedom Caucus.

Davidson largely had been a backbencher but in January won a Financial Services subcommittee gavel overseeing housing and insurance issues, just days after helping McCarthy win the speaker’s gavel.

The quorum call has concluded and 432 members are present. The sole absence from the House is Rep. Donald Payne, D-N.J.

Jordan will need 217 votes to secure the speakership.

McHenry did not say he would support Rep. Dave Joyce’s, R-Ohio, resolution to give him more power.

“The resolution is electing a speaker. That’s what we are trying to resolve today,” McHenry told reporters as he was walking to the floor. “I want to elect Jim Jordan speaker, and that’s what we are going to the floor to do.”

As the quorum call came to a close, McHenry, Jordan and Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., could be seen huddling by the dais engaged in conversation.

Across the floor, Reps. Carlos Gimenez of Florida, Don Bacon of Nebraska, and Nick LaLota and Anthony D'Espositio, both of New York, were seen speaking in the same spot they sat for yesterday's vote when they held out from giving Jordan their vote.

Jordan then approached LaLota and the two spoke one-on-one for a few minutes. LaLota then sat down again with his fellow New York holdouts.

Jeffries told reporters on his way to the floor this morning that Democrats are open to a resolution that would empower McHenry as speaker pro tempore.

"We'll have to review it, but all options are on the table to end the Republican civil war," Jeffries said.

However, Jeffries made clear that Jordan will not be considered by Democrats.

"We’ve been saying from the very beginning, that we want a bipartisan path forward. That does not involve Jim Jordan, who is a poster child for Republican extremism and a danger to our democracy," Jeffries said.

Jeffries said that Democrats will "create the time and space necessary" to make "informed decisions" on who to uplift as speaker.

"There’s a pathway forward that we’re willing to consider discuss, and then make a decision in the best interest of the American people," Jeffries added.

The House is now holding a quorum call to see who is present to vote in today's session.

The House has been called into session.

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."

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.

Read the full story here.

The move comes after a failed first round of voting on Jordan for speaker.

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.

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.”

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. 

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.

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.

Twenty Republicans broke with Jordan on the first ballot, selecting former Speaker McCarthy, Scalise and others.

Read how they voted here.