In the first round of voting to select the Speaker of the House, Jim Jordan encountered an early setback as 20 Republican lawmakers broke ranks with their party’s designated candidate.
The ultimate tally indicated 200 votes in support of Jordan, 212 in favor of the Democratic minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, and 20 for various other contenders, notably including Kevin McCarthy, the former House Speaker recently removed from office, and Steve Scalise, who had briefly held the position as the Republican party’s nominee.
Jim Jordan has affirmed his willingness to persist in pursuing subsequent rounds of voting to determine the leader of the lower chamber of Congress. He is meeting with the Republicans who did not vote for him to try to sway them.
McCarthy, a Jordan supporter, clung to his optimism, saying, “What I saw was the exact same vote I got when I ran and I became speaker.”
“I want a Speaker who understands Long Island’s unique needs. Restoring the SALT deduction, safeguarding 9/11 victim support funding, and investing in critical infrastructure are our priorities,” said Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, who voted against Jordan.
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has more votes for the Speaker of the House than the GOP majority nominated Jim Jordan. For when politics spirals out, it spirals out not just for the players, but for us all.
