In a surprising turn of events, hardline conservative Republican Jim Jordan's ambition to become the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives came to an abrupt halt. After three unsuccessful votes on the House floor, his fellow Republicans withdrew their support, leaving the chamber leaderless and in a state of uncertainty.
The secret-ballot vote has significant implications. The House remains paralyzed, unable to address President Joe Biden's urgent request for aid to Ukraine and Israel. This delay could potentially last until next week or even longer.
Jordan's dwindling support from within his party became evident as the week progressed. In the third round of balloting on the House floor, 25 Republican lawmakers voted against him, a slight increase from the 22 who had opposed him in the second round. With only 194 votes in his favor, Jordan fell short of the 214 votes required to secure the speaker's position. This led to a closed-door meeting where Republicans decided to revoke Jordan's nomination.
The House's inability to elect a leader has further implications. A $106 billion national-security package proposed by Biden, intended to strengthen U.S. border security and provide aid to Israel and Ukraine, remains in limbo.
Despite the setback, Jordan, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, remained defiant. Before the vote, he held a news conference where he stated, "I think there were all kinds of problems with the 2020 election, and I've been clear about that." His involvement in Trump's efforts to overturn Biden's 2020 election win has been a point of contention and was highlighted in a congressional investigation.
The Republican majority, albeit narrow and divided, has struggled to rally behind any candidate to replace the ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Their internal disagreements have also prevented them from formulating a contingency plan to address pending legislation.
The current situation has also brought to light the aggressive tactics employed by some, including Jordan. Reports suggest that some Republicans who opposed him received harassing phone calls and even death threats. However, Jordan's supporters, like Representative Scott Perry, downplayed these incidents, stating that receiving death threats is not uncommon for members of Congress.
Democrats have been unanimous in their opposition to Jordan, with Representative Katherine Clark describing him as a "dangerous extremist."
The Republican party's internal divisions have become more pronounced, with no clear consensus on a backup plan. One such proposal would have temporarily empowered interim Speaker Patrick McHenry to oversee legislative processes until a permanent replacement was found. However, this too was rejected by the Republicans.
President Joe Biden, addressing the ongoing turmoil, urged Republicans to set aside their differences. He emphasized the importance of national responsibilities over "petty, partisan, angry politics."
The ongoing chaos has also caught the attention of investors, contributing to market volatility. Jordan, known for his uncompromising stance, has been a significant figure in the conservative faction. His influence was evident in the government shutdowns of 2013 and 2018 and the retirement of Republican Speaker John Boehner in 2015.
The leadership vacuum has left Congress in a precarious position, with a looming deadline of Nov. 17 to avoid a government shutdown. Additionally, the House's inability to act has hindered the passage of crucial national security packages, as highlighted by President Biden's recent requests.
