House Republicans descended into further chaos Thursday, unable to agree on a plan for a temporary speaker, and Speaker-designate Jim Jordan unwilling to end his race.
The GOP conference met privately for more than three hours, but lawmakers described the discussions as acrimonious at times and said there was no agreement on moving forward with a resolution that would authorize Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick Henry, R-N.C., to restart the House’s legislative business on a temporary basis.
At the same time, Jordan didn't want to withdraw from the race, lawmakers said. A third vote on Jordan subsequently was scheduled for Friday. On Wednesday, Jordan got only 199 votes, well short of the 217 needed to be elected speaker, in the second round of balloting.
Twenty-two Republicans voted against him Wednesday, and many lawmakers believe the opposition would grow on a third vote. But some Jordan supporters, however, continue to encourage him to stay in the race.
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“There’s a small group of folks that Jim is the only answer, which may or may not be true. He needs to decide whether he wants to go through another floor vote,” said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa. “It’s difficult for us to move on until he makes that decision.”
Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla, said Jordan has “got to hash out some differences” with his GOP opponents. “And if they can’t do that, then we’ll take the next step,” she said.
She said the idea of empowering McHenry as a temporary speaker “is nowhere near having the majority support that it would need to get on the floor, and certainly it would open a Pandora’s box, if it were to be passed with Democratic support. So, I think that’s a place that people in the conference don’t want to get to.”
Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., said it was critical for there to be strong GOP support for the temporary speakership, if it’s going to work.
“This can’t be one of those deals where we have Republicans voting no and hoping yes, it just can’t be,” Armstrong said. “Otherwise no matter who you’re putting in that chair … you’re absolutely kneecapping them before they ever start.”
Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., who emerged during the middle of the meeting described his colleagues as being in a standoff, citing Jordan’s refusal to step aside. He also said there were differences over how long a temporary speakership should last, with some wanting a date in November and others January.
Describing the tone of the meeting, Lucas said, “Nobody’s holding back. It is to the point, let’s put it that way.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Republican who led the successful move to oust then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Oct. 3, brushed off reports that McCarthy had yelled at him during Wednesday's meeting.
“Well, you know he loses his temper sometimes, maybe it’s the Irish in him. But I actually think it was a productive discussion," Gaetz said. He said he was pleased that the idea of a temporary speakership lacked support.
House Democrats also met Thursday but have yet to discuss whether they would support empowering McHenry, said Massachusetts Rep. Jim McGovern, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee. Considerable Democratic support would be needed for the resolution should Republicans remain sharply divided over it.
"We want to be reasonable, and if we can work something out, we're happy to help," McGovern said.
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