Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) was selected Friday as the GOP's nominee for House speaker after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) withdrew his candidacy for the vacant leadership role in a Republican Party in turmoil.
What Happened: House Republicans put forth Jordan, the chair of the House Judiciary Committee, as their Speaker nominee, according to The Hill.
The nomination came in spite of a surprise bid from Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), and Jordan secured the nomination with a total of 124 votes.
Earlier, Scalise withdrew his candidacy for Speaker, having previously narrowly defeated Jordan for the nomination.
"I think we can unite the conference," Jordan said before the vote, voicing his optimism about leading the team.
The House speaker role is vacant after the historic removal of U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the position earlier this month.
See Also: Former Ohio University Wrestlers Accuse Trump Ally Jim Jordan Of Betrayal
Jordan's victory is not certain, as he is a hard-line conservative whose nomination marks a significant milestone in the GOP’s ideological evolution. His nomination also bolsters former President Donald Trump's influence in the House, as Trump had endorsed Jordan just a week prior, The Hill reports.
Despite these developments, some Republicans, including Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), remain opposed to Jordan's nomination. Similarly, Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) anticipates that Jordan will not gain sufficient support to succeed on the House floor.
Why It Matters: The nomination of Jordan comes in the wake of Scalise's sudden withdrawal from the Speaker's race, despite having secured the Republican nomination just a day earlier.
Scalise's exit left the race wide open, with his ability to secure the necessary 217 votes on the House floor being questioned almost instantly. Jordan's nomination, therefore, represents a significant shift in the House GOP's power dynamics, reflecting the ongoing ideological evolution within the party.
Photo: Shutterstock.
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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