U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan has reversed his plan to pause his quest to become Speaker of the House after earlier today coming out in favor of a plan to keep Patrick McHenry serving as temporary speaker for the time being. Jordan said he’ll go ahead with third vote on his nomination as speaker after his fellow Republicans rejected the idea of empowering McHenry to temporarily act as speaker.
CNN quoted several sources that said this afternoon’s Republican conference became heated with some House members openly criticizing Jordan, and one swearing at Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who led the rebellion against former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
CNN reported that Gaetz was at one point told to sit down by McCarthy and refused to do so, which led to Rep. Mike Bost of Illinois becoming “all emotional and ugly and was cussing him,” and “telling him it’s all his fault,” one member said describing the meeting.
CNN reported that sources said McCarthy “yelled” at Gaetz to sit down. And when Gaetz didn’t listen, another member in the room yelled “sit the f*** down, Matt.”
After he failed a second time to win the speakership in yesterday’s vote Jordan indicated he would ask for a third vote today. However, late this morning there were indications Jordan wanted to pause the voting process, presumably while continuing his efforts to line up enough votes to win. However, support for Jordan among the Republican House members has ben declining, rather than increasing.
The House had been expected to consider expanding the powers of Temporary Speaker Patrick McHenry, a Republican from North Carolina, so that the House can resume conducting business. Some Democrats supported the plan and their votes would have been necessary since some Republicans had said they’d vote against McHenry. Some Republicans objected to the idea of Democrats joining with them to ensure enough votes for McHenry.
