Republican Split in US House... Jordan Changes Stance, "Will Enter 3rd Vote"

Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and the Republican candidate for Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, announced he would proceed to a third vote after a resolution to expand the powers of the acting speaker faced opposition from the party's hardline right wing. This came just hours after he had stated he would support the expansion of the acting speaker's powers and hold off on a third vote. This development is seen as a clear indication of the depth of division and turmoil within the Republican Party following the unprecedented ousting of the Speaker.

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According to The New York Times (NYT) and others, Jordan said on the afternoon of the 19th (local time) after a closed-door meeting of House Republicans, "I am still running for the speakership," and "I plan to go out and win votes in this election." He added, "We decided that this is not where we want to go," indicating that the proposal to expand the acting speaker's powers did not receive support in the closed meeting. He also said he wanted to talk with Republican members who voted against him in the first and second rounds before the third vote.

Earlier, major foreign media outlets reported, citing multiple sources, that Jordan changed his strategy to support the resolution expanding the acting speaker's powers after failing to secure enough party support to be elected speaker. The resolution would grant Patrick McHenry, the acting speaker until January 3 next year, the same powers as a formally elected speaker, except excluding him from the presidential line of succession. This was interpreted as Jordan buying time for persuasion after failing to secure a majority in the first two votes. The plan is to push for a vote as soon as he secures the necessary votes to be elected speaker.

However, opposition arose mainly from the conservative hardliners within the Republican Party who have supported Jordan. Scott Perry, chairman of the Freedom Caucus, argued, "This is not the right way to elect a speaker." Congressman Jim Banks also called it "a plan to give control of the House to the Democrats" and "a huge betrayal of Republicans." Congressman Chip Roy pointed out that it "directly violates the Constitution." The NYT reported, "The proposal to grant powers to the acting speaker angered far-right Republican members," adding that "they accused this move of being a partnership with the Democrats." The outlet also noted that McHenry had negotiated with the White House during the early-year debt ceiling talks, which the hard right opposed. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing Congressman Pat Fallon, estimated that about two-thirds opposed the expansion of the acting speaker's powers in this meeting.

As a result, concerns over the vacant speakership are growing. The Republican Party, the House majority, remains divided, delaying the election of a new speaker amid pressing issues such as the budget. The deadline for the temporary budget passed on October 30 to prevent a federal government shutdown is less than a month away, set for November 17. Additionally, delays are inevitable in handling emergency aid budgets for Israel, which was attacked unexpectedly by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, and additional support packages for Ukraine.

Jordan, who became the Republican candidate for speaker after the ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, received 200 votes in the first floor vote on the 17th and 199 votes in the second vote on the 18th. Unlike House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat who received the support of all Democratic members (212 votes), there were 20 and 22 defections within the party in the first and second votes, respectively. Especially as defections increased, assessments followed that his chances of winning in the next vote had decreased. Currently, the Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House with 221 seats compared to the Democrats' 212, so Jordan must minimize defections to within four votes to be elected speaker.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.