Jim Jordan Loses First Speaker Vote Amidst Intriguing House Speaker Race

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In an eventful House Speaker race, Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, a prominent Republican from Ohio, faced a setback on Tuesday as he lost the first round of voting. The vote saw 20 Republicans joining ranks with all Democrats to deny him the speakership.

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According to reports from Fox News, seven Republicans voted in favor of Majority Leader Steve Scalise from Louisiana, who had previously been the speaker-designate but withdrew due to mounting opposition.

Six GOP lawmakers voted for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy from California, who was ousted from the role. Additionally, three moderate New York Republicans voted for former GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin.

The voting didn’t end there, as additional votes were split among various candidates, including House Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole from Oklahoma, Majority Whip Tom Emmer from Minnesota, Rep. Mike Garcia from California, and Rep. Thomas Massie from Kentucky.

However, it appears that this setback may not be the end of Jim Jordan’s bid for the speaker’s gavel. His allies have indicated a willingness to continue through multiple rounds of voting until a majority is secured.

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“It might take a few votes, it might not be done on the first ballot, but I think he’s okay with that,” remarked one GOP lawmaker after a closed-door House Republican meeting, according to reports.

Jordan initially emerged as the House GOP’s candidate for speaker in an anonymous vote the previous week. However, it quickly became evident that securing the support of moderates and wary establishment Republicans would be an uphill battle for him. Some Republicans who objected to Jordan’s speakership turned to either Kevin McCarthy or Steve Scalise.

The House GOP’s original speaker-designate had been Steve Scalise after McCarthy’s removal two weeks ago. But strong opposition, particularly from Jordan’s allies who remained committed to voting for the Ohio Republican, compelled Scalise to withdraw from the race just one day later.

On Tuesday morning, when asked about the number of voting rounds he was willing to go through, Jordan declined to specify, emphasizing the need to get a speaker in place as soon as possible.

The House Speaker race continues to be a focal point of interest, with the outcome of subsequent votes and the ultimate victor yet to be determined in this dynamic political landscape.

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