Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) failed to reach a majority on the House floor Wednesday, drawing one less vote for speaker than on the first ballot Tuesday. He told reporters late Wednesday afternoon that there would be no further votes Wednesday, but he plans to remain in the race for a third ballot Thursday. Jordan, a conservative firebrand allied with former president Donald Trump, is seeking to succeed Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was ousted as speaker two weeks ago. Twenty-two Republicans voted against Jordan on the second ballot. He can afford to lose only four.
Jordan lost a second vote in as many days as opposition to his nomination grew from 20 GOP defections to 21. It is unclear how Republicans will proceed as the House remains unable to conduct any business without an elected speaker. No more votes are scheduled for Wednesday, leaving the vacancy to drag on for yet another day.
The loss comes after Jordan spent the past 24 hours working behind closed doors to woo skeptics.
"We're working on it," Jordan told reporters ahead of the vote, even as it was clear that momentum for his effort to gain the gavel had shifted. After the vote, the House recessed as Republicans figure out the next step.
