Jordan's Speaker Bid Hanging by a Thread: Unyielding GOP Opposition Puts Future at Risk

The Ohio Republican, Rep. Jim Jordan, is facing significant opposition within his own party, putting his bid for Speaker of the House in jeopardy. This raises doubts about his ability to sway enough of the dissenting members to secure the position. In the initial round of voting on Tuesday, Jordan was unsuccessful in winning the speakership, as 20 Republicans voted against his candidacy. This number is much higher than the few losses he could tolerate, considering the GOP's slim majority.

The House is scheduled to conduct a second speaker vote on Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET. This vote is crucial for Jordans candidacy as it will determine whether he is gaining or losing support.

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy required 15 rounds of voting in January to secure the position. However, it remains uncertain whether Jordan has a realistic chance of succeeding in the race due to the significant divisions within the House GOP conference and the resistance he is encountering.

Jordan projected optimism Tuesday evening, telling CNNs Manu Raju he will "keep going."

"We are going to keep working. We will get to the votes," he said.

The uncertainty surrounding Jordan's candidacy poses a risk of prolonging the existing state of paralysis in the House. With no speaker in place, the chamber is essentially at a standstill, an unstable position given the ongoing conflicts abroad and the looming possibility of a government shutdown next month.

As a result, some Republicans have suggested enhancing the authority of the interim speaker, Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry from North Carolina. However, such a decision would move the chamber into unfamiliar territory.

Rep. Jim Jordan arrives for a House Republican Conference meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Friday, October 13.

Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

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One of the twenty individuals who voted against Jordan in the initial round of voting later announced their intention to support the Ohio Republican in the subsequent ballot. However, several Republicans made it clear that they would not be influenced, leaving the fate of Jordan uncertain.

Jordan's involvement in the speakership battle has been divisive, adding complexity to his efforts to secure votes. As a close ally of former President Donald Trump, he is well-known for his conservative activism and played a significant role in founding the hardline House Freedom Caucus. Additionally, Jordan, in his capacity as the chairman of the influential House Judiciary Committee, has been instrumental in leading investigations conducted by the House GOP.

Centrist Republicans, who are worried about the House GOP being represented by a hardline conservative, and lawmakers who are still angry at the small group of Republicans that ousted McCarthy and opposed House Majority Leader Steve Scalise's bid for the position, are among the opponents of his speakership. Scalise initially emerged as the nominee but later withdrew his candidacy due to opposition.

CNNs Jeremy Herb and Sam Fossum contributed to this report.