Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) has lost his second bid to become the Speaker of the House, raising questions about the Republican Party's next move.
What Happened: Jordan's second attempt to secure the Speaker's position was declined on Wednesday, CNBC reports. This marks his second unsuccessful try in two days, raising doubts about the House Republicans' ability to elect a new Speaker unless a candidate appealing to Democrats emerges.
During the initial vote, 20 Republicans opposed Jordan, with that number increasing to 22 in the subsequent vote.
Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), who put forward Jordan's name for a second time, attributed the ongoing chaos to the group responsible for ousting former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The Republicans' attention may now shift to Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), who has served as the interim Speaker since McCarthy's ouster.
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) intends to introduce a motion to nominate McHenry as Speaker Pro Tempore after Jordan's second failed attempt, according to CNBC. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) hinted that Democrats might back McHenry to end the deadlock.
For over two weeks now, the House has been without a leader following a no-confidence vote against McCarthy led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL).
Why It Matters: The inability of the Republicans to elect a new Speaker has attracted criticism from the Democrat camp. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) expressed her disappointment at the current state of affairs, pointing out the importance of a Speaker for the effective functioning of the House.
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