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| Mr Jim Jordan |
In a high-stakes and tumultuous race for the position of Speaker of the House, Ohio congressman Jim Jordan, with the backing of former President Donald Trump, faced fierce opposition from Georgia lawmaker Austin Scott.
In a secret ballot held on a Friday afternoon, Mr. Jordan managed to secure 124 votes from fellow party members, as reported by the BBC's US partner, CBS News. However, his path to becoming the Speaker of the House is far from assured, as significant opposition looms large within the party.
One of his primary challengers, Steve Scalise, initially nominated as the party's candidate for Speaker before withdrawing his candidacy, has sworn to oppose Mr. Jordan at all costs.
Mr. Jordan only narrowly expanded the fragile margin of 113 votes to 99 that Steve Scalise had secured earlier in the week. The uncertainty of whether he can gather enough votes to secure an overall majority in the chamber now hovers over this closely watched race.
Following the vote, Republican representatives proceeded to take a second motion to gauge support for Mr. Jordan in a floor vote, temporarily adjourning for the weekend. This leaves the House without a Speaker for ten days, a situation that impedes their ability to pass bills, approve White House requests for emergency aid, or pass short-term spending bills.
This is not Mr. Jordan's first bid for the Speaker nominee, having lost to House Republican Whip Steve Scalise earlier in the week. He expressed confidence ahead of Friday's secret ballot, stating his belief that he could "unite the conference" and effectively communicate their mission to the nation.
Nonetheless, Mr. Jordan faces significant challenges in his quest for the Speaker's gavel. With the Republicans holding only a slim majority in the House, he needs the support of 217 out of 221 Republican members. He can afford to lose just five votes, making every member's stance a pivotal one.
While the exact number of Republicans opposing his candidacy remains uncertain, several have publicly declared their unwillingness to support him or expressed doubt about his ability to lead effectively.
The inability to convince his own supporters to switch their allegiance to Steve Scalise after losing the initial ballot has raised questions about his leadership.
The timeline for the Speaker vote heading to the House floor remains unclear, with some pushing for an immediate floor vote, while others argue that Mr. Jordan may need more time to sway those who are currently undecided or against him.
The Republican conference also grapples with attendance issues, as only 209 of the 221 members are presently in Washington, D.C., further complicating the path to selecting the next Speaker of the House.
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