WASHINGTON: Despite deepening opposition, Rep. Jim Jordan is digging in for a fight to become House speaker ahead of a Friday vote, even as his Republican colleagues are warning the hard-edged ally of Donald Trump that no more threats or promises can win their support.
An onslaught of pressure from the Republican Party base, allies predicted, would compel the GOP’s moderate and establishment members to support Jordan, a hero of the far-right, and help him secure the votes for the gavel.
But as the pressure campaign devolved this week into death threats against lawmakers and their families, something unexpected happened: Positions hardened, and a ragtag coalition of roughly 20 House Republicans rose up to deny Jordan the speakership.
The House will hold a third speaker vote when it opens for business at 10:00 ET (1400 GMT) on Friday, his spokesperson Russell Dye said. Jordan has come up short in two votes already.
“I’m still running for speaker and I plan to go to the floor and get the votes and win this race,” Jordan told reporters earlier in the day.
Jordan met with some of the 22 fellow Republicans who have voted against him, but he did not appear to change any minds.
“We all told him that we’re solid no’s. That was the discussion,” Republican Representative Vern Buchanan told reporters. “Now he’s got a decision to make.”
Bullying don’t work,” said Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican centrist who has led the opposition to Jordan’s nomination.
Still, Bacon said the harassing text messages and phone calls have taken a toll. His wife slept with a loaded gun near her bedside one night. Other Republicans said their families have been threatened. And every lawmaker who voted against Jordan has received a barrage of angry phone calls and messages.
Still, they vowed Thursday to not back down as Jordan tried for a third day to win the 217 Republican votes he needs to become speaker.
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It’s just the latest twist in the contentious intra-party feud that has consumed House Republicans since the unprecedented removal of Kevin McCarthy more than two weeks ago. Hopelessly divided, Republicans have been arguing for weeks over how to mend their fractured majority. The death threats have only worsened the tension, with lawmakers feeling their colleagues are partially to blame for the outpouring of bile.
As Republicans choose their next speaker, however, the just-say-no tactic is coming from new corners of the Republican conference: moderate GOP lawmakers who represent politically purple congressional districts, senior members of the House Appropriations Committee, and loyalists to GOP leadership figures like McCarthy and Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
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Many Republicans were angered last week by how the Freedom Caucus seemed to once again get what it wanted by refusing to support Scalise’s bid for speaker, forcing him to drop out and clearing the way for Jordan to make a run.
Jordan had several advantages. The hard-charging Ohio Republican, who helped found the House Freedom Caucus, had former President Donald Trump’s backing, as well as support from conservative commentators and influencers like Fox News host Sean Hannity.
First elected in 2006, Jordan has few bills to his name from his time in office. He also faces questions about his past.
Some years ago, Jordan denied allegations from former wrestlers during his time as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University who accused him of knowing about claims they were inappropriately groped by an Ohio State doctor. Jordan has said he was never aware of any abuse.
