Politics /

Jordan To Hold Friday Press Conference, 3rd Ballot To Follow

X Users Noted McCarthy Received 15 Ballots For Speaker Over A Week While Jordan Has Only Received Two In Four Days

Published: October 20, 2023
  |   By Christopher Bertman

Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan will hold a press conference on Friday at 8 a.m. EST in the Rayburn Room at the Capitol.

The House Judiciary GOP announced the press conference in a late-Thursday X post.

The press conference follows the Ohio representative’s Thursday announcement that he would remain in the running for Speaker of the House after failing to secure a majority 217 votes in Congress during ballots held earlier this week.

A third ballot was originally expected to be held Thursday, though the vote was rescheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, per Jordan’s office.

Early Thursday reports indicated the Ohio representative would not seek a third ballot and instead would throw support behind a resolution drafted by Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Kelly.

Kelly’s resolution would grant Speaker Pro Tempore temporary expanded powers to move legislation. The expanded powers would expire on Nov. 17 or upon the selection of a permanent Speaker of the House.

McHenry assumed Speaker Pro Tempore after former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy was removed earlier this month.

During Jordan’s announcement that he would not withdraw his candidacy for Speaker, the Ohio representative said the Republican conference originally pitched Kelly’s resolution to “lower the temperature,” though said House Republicans decided not to pursue that avenue.

Jordan said he would speak with House Republicans opposing him as Speaker in hopes of finding a middle ground.

After Jordan’s announcement, images surfaced of the Ohio representative holding a note reading, “What is the real reason?” which pundits speculated was in reference to House Republicans opposing a Jordan Speakership.

X users noted contrast between Jordan’s two failed ballots and McCarthy’s historically contested Speaker vote which lasted 15 rounds.

“There is no reason for Jim Jordan to drop out of the Speaker’s race,” PragerU personality CJ Pearson wrote, noting McCarthy’s lengthy road to Speakership. “Call the Swamp’s bluff, Jim Jordan.”

Others noted McCarthy received 15 votes over one week while Jordan will only have received three within the same amount of time.

“It is clear that my constituents agree with what I said to my colleagues earlier today: Just two votes in four days is not enough,” wrote Tennessee Rep. Mark Green.

“We went through 15 rounds for Speaker McCarthy, we need to stay here until we elect Jim Jordan—not empower a Speaker Pro Tem in the meantime.”

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