Republican's Speaker Nominee Withdraws Bid After Third Unsuccessful Vote

In a surprising turn of events, hardline conservative Republican Jim Jordan's aspirations to become the Speaker of the US House of Representatives came to an end after a third consecutive failed vote. His fellow Republicans decided to withdraw their support, causing significant turmoil within the party.

Image Source -www.nationalreview.com

In a surprising turn of events, hardline conservative Republican Jim Jordan's aspirations to become the Speaker of the US House of Representatives came to an end after a third consecutive failed vote. His fellow Republicans decided to withdraw their support, causing significant turmoil within the party.

The ongoing gridlock means that the House will remain unable to respond to President Joe Biden's request for a $106 billion national security package, which includes crucial military aid for Ukraine and Israel. Additionally, the House cannot take action to avert an impending partial government shutdown set for November 18.

Support for Jordan's candidacy gradually eroded over the course of the week. In the latest round of balloting on Friday, he only secured 194 votes, a significant drop from the 200 votes he received just days earlier. These numbers fell well short of the majority he needed to clinch the speaker's gavel. Subsequently, Republicans voted 112-86 to revoke Jordan's nomination during a closed-door meeting.

Speaking to reporters, Jordan expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, stating, "It was an honour to be their speaker designee." He stressed the need for the party to unite and determine the next speaker. However, it remains uncertain who the Republicans might turn to as an alternative candidate.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted as speaker earlier, threw his support behind Representative Tom Emmer, the No. 3 House Republican. At least four other lawmakers have indicated their intention to run for the position, with the possibility of more contenders emerging.

The Republicans currently hold a slim 221-212 majority in the House, making it imperative for them to minimize defections on party-line votes. The legislative dysfunction displayed during this ordeal underscores their vulnerability.

Apart from McCarthy and Jordan, the Republicans also rejected their No. 2 choice, Steve Scalise, who withdrew after failing to garner sufficient support. The candidates will present their cases on Monday evening, with a potential vote slated for Tuesday. In addition to Emmer, contenders include Kevin Hern, a leader of a conservative policy group, and Austin Scott, a less well-known lawmaker who briefly pursued the position last week.

Republicans have already considered and dismissed a backup plan to address urgent matters such as Biden's aid package and government funding, due to expire on November 17. This plan would have given more authority to Republican Representative Patrick McHenry, temporarily filling the speaker's role. While House Democrats and the White House expressed openness to the idea, Republicans opted against pursuing it.

Jim Jordan, a close ally of Donald Trump, has been a prominent figure in efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. His unyielding stance on election integrity worked against him, with some Republican opponents denouncing a pressure campaign orchestrated by his supporters, resulting in harassment and threats.

Also Read: Volta Trucks Seeks Urgent Buyer Amid Bankruptcy Crisis - A Bid For Survival

Despite the backlash, Jordan's supporters argued that such issues are commonplace in Congress. Nevertheless, 25 Republican lawmakers voted against him in Friday's vote, more than the 20 who opposed him on Tuesday. His final vote total of 194 fell below expectations.

Unsurprisingly, Democrats viewed Jordan as a dangerous extremist and unanimously voted against him in all three-floor votes, emphasizing their concerns about his record. Jordan's Republican adversaries refrained from celebrating his defeat, with Representative Mario Diaz-Balart lamenting the overall situation. The Republicans now face the challenge of selecting a new candidate who can unify their party and secure the position of Speaker of the House.