Jim Jordan wins Speaker nod

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) today became the second Republican to have a nomination to be Speaker of the House of Representatives. But whether he, like Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) before him, will have to withdraw for lack of votes, is an officially open question. The full House will likely not vote tonight on a new Speaker but will vote next week.

Jim Jordan wins, but can he get enough votes?

The Hill, The Gateway Pundit, Just the News and The Daily Caller all report that Jim Jordan won his nomination by a vote of 124-81. The math says that sixteen Representatives did not vote. Of those that did, Jordan actually won by 22 votes, that being one-half plus one of his margin.

In fact Jordan had a challenger. Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) filed his candidacy within minutes of the vote, just to spite Jordan.

So without campaigning, he got 81 votes.

After that, the House Republican Conference held a “validation vote,” to see who would support Jordan on the full floor vote. The tally: 152-55, this time with fourteen Representatives not voting.

Jordan must convince those fifty-five, plus ten more, to support him at the full floor vote. The Democrats will, without a doubt, support their Floor Leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

The Hill reports at least two Members (Reps. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., and Vern Buchanan, R-Fla.) are adamant in opposing Jim Jordan. But The Hill did not quote either Member as saying why he refuses to support Jordan.

Jordan himself has not, at time of posting, made any public comment, nor posted anything to X. His account shows multiple reposts, mostly from well-wishers, or showing various committee sessions.

Today News Africa’s Simon Ateba shared the news about Jordan’s nomination.

Reaction was mostly positive.