Jim Jordan loses Round Two

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), in his quest to become Speaker of the House, fell short again – by 22 votes. This tally features an increased number of defectors, and a swapping of names from the first round. These two facts indicate a “defection in relays” and indicates that the job of uniting a fractious House Republican Conference has the additional complication of organized gamesmanship.

Jim Jordan loses again

In this second round, all Representatives were present, including Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), who was absent yesterday. (He voted for Jim Jordan.) The 433 votes cast, fell out among these candidates:

None of these candidates voted for themselves, except that Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) voted for Steve Scalise (R-La.). Note that three of the “other” candidates who drew votes, are not members of the House.

The twenty-two defectors were, in alphabetical order:

• Don Bacon (R-Neb.)
• Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.)
• Ken Buck (R-Colo.)
• Lori Chavez-DeRemeber (R-Ore.)
• Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.)
• Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.)
• Jake Ellzey (R-Texas)
• Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.)
• Andrew Garbarino (D-N.Y.)
• Carlos Giménez (R-Fla.)
• Tony Gonzales (R-Texas)
• Kay Granger (R-Texas)
• John James (R-Mich.)
• Mike Kelly (R-Pa.)
• Jennifer Kiggans (R-Va.)
• Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.)
• Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.)
• Marianette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa)
• John Rutherford (R-Fla.)
• Mike Simpson (R-Idaho)
• Pete Stauber (R-Minn.)
• Steve Womack (R-Ark.)

At time of writing, the House is in recess once again. Whether the House will vote again today is not clear.

The Gateway Pundit also covered this story.

Different names

As CNAV indicated above, the total group of defectors this round is larger and has incomplete overlap with the list from the first round. Buchanan, Ferguson, and Miller-Meeks were new defectors in the second round. But Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), who defected in the first round, did not defect this time. Gus Bilirakis has never explained his absence from yesterday’s vote.

Buchanan had earlier indicated his adamant opposition to Jordan. Why he voted for Jordan yesterday but not today is not clear. That also goes for Ferguson and Miller-Meeks. This indicates a level of gamesmanship other outlets might not yet have notices.