Rep. Terri Sewell calls new Speaker of the House Mike Johnson a MAGA extremist
After 22 days of internal GOP battles over which faction got to pick the Speaker and little House business getting done, the U.S. House of Representatives finally agreed upon a Speaker of the House Wednesday. Republicans chose Congressman Mike Johnson as the 56th Speaker of the House. Johnson represents his native Shreveport and the state’s fourth district. On Wednesday, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07) released a statement regarding the election of Rep. Johnson as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sewell expressed her concerns about Johnson and called him a “MAGA extremist.” “While I am grateful that House Republicans have finally ended their stalemate and selected a new House Speaker, I am gravely disappointed that my colleagues across the aisle have rejected our calls for bipartisanship and empowered yet another MAGA extremist,” said Sewell. “I have very serious concerns about Mike Johnson’s record, namely his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, his hostility toward our hard-fought rights and freedoms, and his work to slash Social Security and Medicare,” Sewell said. “I will work with Speaker Johnson where we can agree but make no mistake; when it comes to protecting our democracy, our freedoms, and the programs that Americans rely on, I will not back down.” Since President Donald Trump’s (R) election in 2016, new Republican candidates elected to Congress have tended to become more in line with his “Make America Great Again” agenda. Meanwhile, many moderate Republicans in swing districts and blue states lost or retired from Congress when House Republicans lost the majority in 2018. The GOP regained the majority in 2022, but those new Republicans and the old GOP leadership who had served for decades under multiple presidents had a clash of agendas and personalities. The Speaker’s battle effectively repudiated the entire Republican leadership team. MAGA Republicans, many of them in the Freedom Caucus, ousted Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California) and then respectively rejected both the House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota). Moderates and more mainstream conservatives formed a block to reject Freedom Caucus Founding Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), but it was clear to everyone after the rejection of Emmer on Tuesday that the House Republican Conference was ready to move in a new, more rightward direction. Johnson is an attorney, a former state legislator, a college professor, a former conservative talk radio host, and a spokesman for groups advocating for religious liberty. In January 2021, Johnson was elected Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference. Johnson also serves as a Deputy Whip for the 118th Congress. Johnson was elected to Congress while Trump was in office but has quickly risen through the GOP ranks. In 2021, Johnson was elected Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference. In 2022, he was also selected as a Deputy Whip. Now, he is the 56th Speaker of the House, with far fewer years of congressional tenure than McCarthy, Scalise, Jordan, or Emmer, and the second most powerful person in the U.S. government. Johnson had the support of all six Republican members of the Alabama Congressional delegation. Sewell is in her seventh term representing Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Mike Johnson elected speaker of the House after three weeks of infighting
By Casey Harper | The Center Square The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to elect Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., as speaker of the House, ending more than three weeks without a speaker and a string of chaotic meetings and votes on Capitol Hill. Johnson received multiple standing ovations from his colleagues Wednesday before securing the speakership. The final vote was 220-209, with Democrats supporting Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. “Today is the day that House Republicans will humbly look in our hearts and elect Mike Johnson as speaker of the people’s House,” Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., said in a speech from the House floor ahead of the vote, calling Johnson “a man of deep faith,” and “a deeply respected Constitutional lawyer.” “Mike is strong, tough, and fair, and above all, Mike is kind,” Stefanik added. Stefanik announced on Sunday nine candidates that were making a bid to be speaker, but that number was slowly whittled down as lawmakers dropped out. “Today is the day we get this done,” Stefanik said in her Wednesday speech. U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., gave a speech from the floor to nominate Jeffries for speaker and attack Republicans. Jeffries blasted Republicans for “all of the infighting, all of the disarray just to end up where we were three weeks ago.” Johnson pitched Republicans on an aggressive legislative agenda over the next few weeks. Under his leadership, the House will face a looming partial government shutdown deadline in the middle of November as well as ongoing calls to fund Ukraine and Israel in their respective wars. “We must govern well and expand our majority next year,” Johnson said in a letter to his fellow Republicans over the weekend, asking for support in the speakership race. President Joe Biden called on Congress last week for more than $100 billion to that end, as well as funding for Taiwan, the immigration issue, and other priorities. That proposal was met with immediate pushback from Republicans in the House and Senate. Some funding for Israel, though, is likely to pass. More funding for Ukraine has become a divisive issue for Republicans, and it remains unclear how many more billions lawmakers will be willing to send to Ukraine. Notably, U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, was running for speaker but later dropped out and told reporters he was supporting Johnson. The chaotic three-week battle for a speaker began when U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., filed a motion to vacate former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. At that point, Majority Leader Steve Scalise won the nomination but quickly backed out after being unable to secure the needed votes. After that, House Judiciary Chair Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, won the nomination but lost it days later after three failed votes on the House floor, with 25 Republicans ultimately voting against him. Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., was next to secure the nomination but almost immediately withdrew after failing to gain support. Notably, former President Donald Trump campaigned against Emmer. Before the vote Wednesday, Johnson posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, a picture of the American flag in the House Chamber, which has inscribed above it, “In God We Trust.” Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Mike Johnson is GOP’s fourth choice to be Speaker of the House
House Republicans have nominated Congressman Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) for Speaker of the House on Tuesday night after Tuesday morning’s nominee crashed and burned. Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL02) told Alabama Today on Saturday that he really liked Johnson. Congressman Dale Strong (R-AL05) announced his support for Johnson on the social media site X. “Since day 1 I have called for our party to unite around a conservative speaker,” Strong said. “I am proud to announce that the conference has selected Mike Johnson from Louisiana and I look forward to supporting him on the floor.” On Tuesday morning, the GOP started with nine candidates, including Alabama’s own Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL06). Palmer dropped out of the race, pledging to support whoever became the Speaker of the House. The House Republican Conference then chose House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota) after five rounds of voting. The ousted Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy (R-California), endorsed Emmer. Former President Donald Trump was not an Emmer fan and denounced Emmer as a “Globalist RINO” on Truth Social. More than two dozen Republican House members were refusing to support Emmer. Trump’s rebuke made it apparent that the moderate from a blue state had no chance, so he dropped out. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) explained in a post on X, formerly Twitter, why she didn’t back Emmer: his voting record. “Today I voted against Tom Emmer on all rounds of voting including the spoken roll call vote because he has a voting record I can’t support,” Green said. “He voted for Democrat gay marriage bill, voted with Democrats to overturn President Trump’s transgender military ban, voted for every penny of Ukraine funding, at one time supported the Soros national popular vote scheme, and voted to certify Biden’s 2020 election. We need a Republican Speaker that reflects the values of Republican voters that can lead our conference.” Johnson was chosen by Republicans in a conference vote on Tuesday night. He follows Emmer, Jim Jordan, and Steve Scalise as the party’s nominee. Johnson represents Louisiana’s Fourth District. He represents the nearly 760,000 residents of 16 parishes in the northwest and western regions of the state. He was first elected in 2016. In January 2021, Johnson was elected Vice Chairman of the House Republican Conference. Johnson also serves as a Deputy Whip for the 118th Congress. Johnson is an attorney with two decades of previous experience in Constitutional law. He serves on the House Judiciary Committee and is the chairman of its Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government. He also serves on the Select Committee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government and the House Armed Services Committee. Johnson is a husband and father of four. In his legal career, he was a leading defender of the right to life, religious liberty, free speech, the Second Amendment, and free market principles. He served in the Louisiana Legislature from February 2015 to January 2017, where he was appointed Vice Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and the Select Committee on Leadership. He is the eldest son of a Shreveport firefighter who was critically burned and disabled in the line of duty. Johnson has also been a college professor, conservative talk radio host and columnist, a media spokesman for America’s largest religious liberty organizations, a constitutional law seminar instructor, and a board member for national organizations and numerous community groups and ministries. Johnson has a law degree from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. He earned his undergraduate degree from LSU. A vote could occur as soon as Wednesday morning. Johnson needs 217 votes to win. The biggest thing Johnson has going for him is the whole absurdity of this situation. Republican House members realize that this situation does not make them look good, and they have to move on to regular business, including budgets and the President’s request for military aid for Ukraine and Israel. Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL04) said on X, “We have got to find consensus on a Speaker. Time is of the essence. Democrats are the only ones who benefit from this impasse.” To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tom Emmer drops bid to be Speaker: House Republicans back to square one
On Tuesday, the House Republican Conference met to decide who would be their next nominee to be the Speaker of the House. They chose House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota). Emmer had the endorsement of ousted Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California). It was the safe choice. Emmer had waited his turn behind McCarthy and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), and he was respected on Capitol Hill. It was also a doomed choice. Emmer won a narrow victory and excited no one in the conservative base that appears to want unprecedented influence on how the GOP actually governs and who it elects to the Speakership. Former President Donald Trump (R) criticized the selection, as did a number of conservative influences. Within a few hours of being elected as the nominee, Emmer admitted his cause was hopeless and withdrew from the race. Emmer was criticized by conservatives for voting for the Respect for Marriage Act, voting to certify the 2020 election results, and for being the number three person on the leadership team that some conservatives felt had not represented them. Alabama Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL06) withdrew from the Speaker’s race the morning before the Conference even voted. “If withdrawing my name can help expedite that process even a little, then I will gladly step aside,” Palmer said in a statement. “The candidate forum and individual conversations have given me great hope for the future of the 118th Congress.” In the vote of the Conference, Emmer narrowly beat Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Oklahoma) for the nomination. Hearn is back in the running for the spot to be the fourth nominee, as well as Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana). Scalise had been the Conference’s first choice, but he could not get the support of the ultra-right Freedom Caucus members, so he withdrew without a floor vote. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) was the next nominee. Jordan had the support of Trump, but it was not enough. Despite bringing his case to the floor three separate times, Jordan could not win over GOP moderates who were angry at conservatives for having failed to support Scalise. Conservatives have now rejected Emmer as being too much of a moderate. The Republicans control the chamber by a 221 to 212 margin. Democrats continue to vote for their candidate, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York). The House Republican Conference is expected to meet on Wednesday to seek a new nominee. Election as Speaker requires a minimum of 217, so only a small faction of 5 or more Republicans is sufficient to sabotage any Republican nominee for the post. Long gone are the days when Republican Congressmen would carry out the will of the majority of their Conference and show no public divisions. This Caucus appears to be bitterly divided and is unashamed to make those divisions all too public. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Palmer withdraws from Speaker’s race: lists five commitments for the next Speaker of the House
On Tuesday, Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL06) released a statement announcing that he has withdrawn his name from consideration for Speaker of the House. “Congress and the American people needed a Republican Speaker three weeks ago,” Palmer said in a statement. “If withdrawing my name can help expedite that process even a little, then I will gladly step aside. The candidate forum and individual conversations have given me great hope for the future of the 118th Congress. All the candidates are committed to ideas similar to the principles I laid out last night. We must bring stability back to the House of Representatives, and we do that by passing our spending bills on time, providing real spending cuts, not passing short-term CRs, allowing members time to read legislation, and uniting the conference before going to the House floor. These principles will truly transform how this place works and ensure it works for the benefit of the American people.” “I will work with the next speaker on the ideas I have laid out so Congress can come together and do the job the American people sent us here to do. With this in mind, I am withdrawing my name from consideration for Speaker.” Earlier on Tuesday, Palmer released a list of five commitments he is asking the next speaker to make. Palmer released the policy outline less than an hour before the House Republican Conference went into a closed-door session to vote on who would be the next nominee for Speaker of the House. Palmer was one of nine Republicans to declare their candidacy for the vacant position. The five commitments include a commitment to fund the government with 12 individual spending bills by June 30; forcing “real spending cuts” and not “budget gimmicks;” refusing to pass any more short-term stopgap funding bills; giving members 72 hours to read a bill before it reaches the House floor for an up or down vote; and requiring sure that the GOP conference is on the same page before holding a House-wide vote. “Congress has been kicking the can down the road since before I was elected,” Palmer said. “We don’t need a person or a personality, we need a plan.” Palmer and the other eight candidates presented their cases to the House Republican Conference in a closed-door forum on Monday night. On Tuesday morning, the GOP Congressmembers will vote on their nominee. Once the GOP selects a nominee, a vote of the full House could come as soon as Tuesday afternoon. The difficulty has not been getting the nomination; the problem has been getting 217 Republican Congress members to vote for the Republican nominee. The last GOP nominee, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), never got more than 200 votes in his three House floor votes. A coalition of moderate and more mainstream Republicans opposed the ultra-conservative Jordan because they thought the former Freedom Caucus Chairman was too divisive. The previous nominee, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), got the nomination but could not get the support of Jordan-supporting Freedom Caucus Republicans. On October 3, then Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California) was ousted when eight Republicans who objected to aid for Ukraine led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) voted with Democrats to oust the Speaker. Palmer supported Jim Jordan on all three House floor votes. He also voted in favor of McCarthy. Whoever wins the Speaker’s nomination must somehow get all the squabbling Republican factions to unite. If a third GOP nominee fails, the GOP conference could repeat this process with new candidates next week. Palmer is a native of Hackleburg, where his father was a small farmer and logger. He has some American Indian heritage. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama. He and Tom Parker cofounded the Alabama Policy Institute – a conservative think tank outside Birmingham. Palmer headed the Alabama Policy Institute for 24 years until he ran for Congress. Palmer is serving in his fifth term representing Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
Gary Palmer’s primary opponents not convinced that he would be a conservative speaker
On Sunday, Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL06) announced that he will seek to be elected as the next Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. However, his two primary opponents in Alabama remain skeptical about Palmer’s commitment to conservative principles. Palmer is facing two Republican primary opponents, Ken McFeeters and Gerrick Wilkins. Alabama Today spoke with McFeeters on Sunday about Palmer and his campaign to be Speaker of the House. McFeeters is an independent insurance agent. “Congressman Palmer might just get the Speakership as Congress has proven it doesn’t want a true conservative by not selecting Jim Jordan, so Gary might be their man,” McFeeters said. “More status quo, more multi-billion-dollar socialist spending bills/CARES Acts, more shutdowns, more “corporatism.” If Congressman Palmer is selected, and I think that’s what Congress wants.” McFeeters did not think that a Speaker Palmer would excite the Republican electorate. “I wish Congress did what the people wanted on occasion,” McFeeters added. “A side note. Gary’s own constituents cannot trust him because he broke his term limits pledge. Thus, why would his colleagues trust him as their next Speaker?” On Monday, Alabama Today spoke with Wilkins – a longtime businessman who declared his candidacy for House District six late last week. “We do need to get the Speaker’s race resolved, but I think there are better choices than Gary Palmer,” Wilkins said. “I think Byron Donalds is the best choice in the Speaker’s race.” “Gary started as a strong conservative, but he has lost his way,” Wilkins said. “He now sides with the establishment more than with the people. He even opposed the parent’s bill of rights.” Wilkins objected to Palmer’s decision earlier this year to renounce his term limits pledge and run for a sixth term. “I think what you say matters,” Wilkins said. “I have been in business for 24 years, and now I am devoting considerable time and resources to this race.” Palmer is facing eight opponents in his bid to be the next Speaker of the House. The House Republican Conference will meet Monday evening to select a new nominee for the open Speaker of the House race. The last two nominees, Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise could not unite the caucus. It takes a simple majority of the Conference to win the Republican nomination, but winning the Speaker of the House position requires 217 Republicans to vote in favor of the nomination. With ultra-conservatives and more mainstream Republicans refusing to vote for the Conference’s nominee, it has been difficult for Republicans to elect a Speaker. Palmer will still have to face McFeeters and Wilkins in the Republican primary. The major party primaries are on March 5. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Republicans announce nine new speaker candidates
By Casey Harper | The Center Square Nine new Republican lawmakers have thrown their hat in the ring to become the next speaker of the U.S. House. Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik released the list of candidates, who had until noon Sunday to announce their candidacy. The list, which Stefanik posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, is as follows: The new list of candidates comes after former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted from the role when Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., filed a motion to vacate. Then, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., was the party’s choice to become speaker, but he withdrew when he was unable to get the support he needed. House Judiciary Chair Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, was next in line and worked for several days to get the needed 217 votes to become speaker. However, at least 20 Republicans voted against him across his three floor-vote attempts, and on Friday, his nomination was revoked. Some of the candidates have more support than others. Donalds’ announcement drew more attention than some others. Emmer has been a rumored pick for speaker as well. However, conservative Republicans have expressed frustration with moderate Republicans for rejecting Jordan, who had significant support with the Republican base but was seen as a hardline conservative who questioned the results of the 2020 presidential election. “The most popular Republican in Congress was just knifed in an anonymous vote in a secret closed-door meeting in the basement of the Capitol,” Gaetz wrote on X Friday. “This is the Swamp at work.” Meanwhile, some more moderate Republicans have expressed frustration with Gaetz and do not want to reward his ousting of McCarthy with an aggressive conservative pick. As The Center Square previously reported, Jordan sparked pushback from his own party on Thursday after reports surfaced that he said behind closed doors he would back the speaker pro Tempore, U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., for a limited temporary speakership role so the government could be funded and other key legislative goals hit. The federal government faces a partial shutdown in November, and there is increasing pressure to send more funds for the Ukraine and Israel wars. President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass a spending package of $105 billion for those wars as well as some border funding and money for Taiwan, which national security experts say China could invade at any time. Jordan later addressed reporters, announcing he would drop that plan and instead hold another vote. That plan still has potential to take effect. While many Republicans have expressed opposition to the idea, Democrat Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has seemed open to the idea when talking with reporters. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Gary Palmer to run for Speaker of the House
The U.S. House of Representatives has been leaderless for almost three weeks now. The House has been rudderless as GOP factions fight one another. After both of the House Republican Conference’s top nominees lost, nearly a dozen candidates have come forward seeking the position. One of these is Alabama Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL06). On Saturday, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York) announced that Palmer is among the declared House candidates. Palmer is serving in his fifth term, representing suburbs and rural areas around Birmingham. Palmer released a statement on Sunday. “Because of reckless government policies, Americans across the country are struggling to make ends meet, to afford groceries, gas, and other everyday necessities,” Rep. Palmer said in a statement. “Families are worried about the safety of their children because our cities are riddled with crime, and fentanyl is flooding across our borders. Americans are anxious about the future because out-of-control spending threatens to bankrupt our nation. Additionally, weak leadership has jeopardized our national security.” “All of this is happening at a time when our nation is the most divided it has been in nearly 160 years,” Palmer continued. “If we ignore these issues, America will decline into the footnotes of history. This doesn’t need to be our future, but how do we change our course? It starts with steady, conservative leadership.” “That’s what Republicans can offer the country, if we come together and unite behind new leadership and a common vision in the House of Representatives focusing on the things that matter to the American people. The things that matter to our future,” Palmer said. “The Republican majority must be willing to make the reforms necessary to ensure fiscal responsibility and restore people’s faith in their government – and in us as their elected representatives. We cannot do this until we are united as Republicans and get back to serving the people who sent us to Washington to defend and advance their interests and not our own.” “The American people are desperate for authentic leadership, leaders who will work to move the nation forward,” said Palmer. “As Republicans, we must show a contrast. There is a distinct difference between our vision for a prosperous and strong America and the vision of the Democrats that has done so much harm. This is why I decided to step forward in the race for Speaker of the House. To do what I can to put our differences behind us and unite Republicans behind a clear path forward, so we can do our job for the benefit of the American people.” Palmer has chaired the Republican Study Committee since 2019 and is a member of House leadership. After Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-AL06) was ousted on October 3, Palmer said we still need to govern the country. “What we just experienced has never occurred in the history of our nation,” Palmer said. “For the first time, a Speaker of the House has been removed. This action is reflective of how divided our nation is, including among Republican members of the House. While I am deeply disappointed about where we are, we still must find a way to govern.” “Our country faces a $33 trillion debt crisis threatening the future of all Americans – those living and those yet to be born,” Palmer continued. “Our border is not secure, threatening not only our economy but also our national security. As Republicans, we must find a way to come together and choose a leader who can unify our party and has the ability to address these issues head on. We have a job to do for the American people, and they deserve a unified majority focused on what’s best for the nation.” Palmer voted against ousting McCarthy. In the race for Speaker, he thrice voted for Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). Jordan’s withdrawal opened up the race for new candidates. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) was the first choice for Speaker, but he withdrew when hardline Jordan supporters refused to back Scalise. Moderate and mainstream Republican members then blocked Jordan’s election. Whoever is nominated by the House Republican Conference will have to receive 217 votes to be elected by the full House of Representatives. Jordan failed to do that on three votes. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
After third failed vote, Jim Jordan will not be Speaker of the House
On Friday, the House of Representatives again rejected House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in a third vote for the Speaker of the House. The third vote was his poorest performance yet as more and more GOP House members abandoned the conservative firebrand’s cause. Just hours after that vote, the Republican Conference met and, in a secret ballot, voted to no longer back Jordan as the GOP nominee for Speaker. Jordan was never the first choice of House Republicans. Most, including Jordan himself, voted not to oust Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California). Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) and eight disgruntled far-right House members voted with House Democrats to oust McCarthy. The Conference chose House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) over Jordan in a close conference vote. Scalise failed to get the commitment from conservatives for a viable run for Speaker. Seeing that he did not have the 217 votes needed to be elected Speaker, Scalise withdrew. Jordan defeated Rep. Austin Scott (R-Georgia) on Friday, August 13. All six Republican Alabama House congressional delegation members supported Jordan’s failed bid for the Speaker’s gavel. Former Speaker McCarthy endorsed Jordan and gave a floor speech Friday morning encouraging members to back him, but this failed to sway the growing anti-Jordan faction within the House Republican Caucus. Jordan, the founding Chairman of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus, struggled to convince mainstream and moderate House members to support him. On the first vote, he received just 200 votes – 17 shy of being elected Speaker. That was the closest that he would ever come. On Thursday, Jordan announced that he had suspended his campaign for Speaker and instead would back giving the Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry (R-North Carolina) emergency powers so that the House could function until January. Opposition prevented that plan from being adopted, so Jordan resumed his campaign for Speaker late Thursday evening, leading to that doomed third vote on Friday morning. With Jordan no longer the nominee and the GOP Conference extremely divided, the House is in something close to chaos. On Thursday, President Joe Biden asked Congress to provide $10 billion to Israel for its war with Hamas and other terror organizations and $50 billion more in emergency aid for Ukraine in its war with Russia. Moving on the aid request or passing budgets to avoid a government shutdown on November 15 is all at a standstill until House Republicans can decide on a Speaker of the House. At this point, it appears that the next Republican nominee will not be Rep. Jordan. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
House rejects Jim Jordan for a second time
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted for a second time to reject the Republican Party nominee, House Judiciary Committee Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), for Speaker of the House. Jordan again failed to get the 217 votes necessary to be elected. Jordan Both was still well short of the 217 needed to get the position and actually did worse on the second ballot than he did on the first. Jordan has vowed to run on a third ballot on Thursday. The House Republican Caucus has been bitterly split since Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) led a group of eight disgruntled Republicans that voted with Democrats to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-California). House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) defeated Jordan to become the conference’s first choice, but he withdrew last week when conservatives refused to support him in the House floor vote. It is now GOP centrists and moderates that are opposing Jordan after the far right of the Caucus toppled McCarthy and blocked Scalice. Jordan was the Founding Chairman of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus. Jordan defeated Austin Scott (R-Georgia) for the GOP nomination in a meeting of the GOP conference Friday after Scalise’s withdrawal. Some members have talked about voting to give the interim Speaker more powers so that the House can continue to function, while the GOP Congress members continue their leadership struggle. Meanwhile, the federal government is racing towards a partial shutdown if Congress does not pass a budget or at least another continuing resolution (C.R.) by November 14. On both of the House floor votes, Jordan had the support of all six Republican congressmen from Alabama. However, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL03) was an outspoken opponent of Jordan becoming the Republican nominee. If Jordan cannot sway 217 GOP congress members to support his candidacy, the Caucus may need to look for a less divisive, more likable candidate to be their nominee. Who that would be, however, at this point, is entirely up in that air. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
Jim Jordan fails in first ballot to be Speaker of the House
On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to consider Republican Party nominee Representative Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for Speaker of the House. Jordan failed to get the 217 votes necessary to be elected. Six Republicans who voted NO on Jordan’s quest for the top spot in the House of Representatives are in swing districts and are considered highly vulnerable in 2024. Jordan, who voted to invalidate the 2020 election results, has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Jordan received only 200 votes on the first ballot. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies (D-New York) received 212. Both were short of the 217 needed to get the position. Jordan seeks to succeed Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-California) as Speaker. The first choice of the Conference, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), withdrew late on Thursday night after he could not get enough conservative support to win the nomination. Jordan then defeated Rep. Austin Scott (R-Georgia) for the GOP nomination in a meeting of the GOP conference on Friday. Scalise and McCarthy both got votes on that first ballot, though neither is a candidate. Six Republicans announced on Monday night that they would not support Jordan. Others had kept their decisions private until the vote. Jordan is the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee investigating President Joe Biden. and his son Hunter Biden, as well as the President’s alleged dereliction of duty on the U.S. southern border. Jordan was a founding member and the first chairman of the conservative Freedom Caucus. Jordan had the support of Alabama’s six Republican Congressmen. Congressman Jerry Carl (R-AL01) said on X, “I voted for @Jim_Jordan for Speaker. He is the conservative leader we need so we can get to work delivering results for the American people. It’s time to come together as a party, get our country back on track, and hold @JoeBiden accountable.” Jordan can either bring another vote in hopes that recalcitrant Republican lawmakers change their minds, or the GOP Conference can meet again and select another nominee to run for Speaker of the House – one who is seen as less divisive than Jordan. At this point, it seems unlikely that Jordan can reach the 217 needed for victory. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Reps. Robert Aderholt and Dale Strong endorse Jim Jordan
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) could be the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives as early as Tuesday. A floor event is expected as early as Tuesday afternoon. Jordan is the Republican Party nominee for Speaker of the House, but will 217 Republicans vote for him? All six of Alabama’s Republican Congressmen are supporting Jordan. On Monday, Congressman Dale Strong (R-AL05) announced his support for the sometimes polarizing Jordan. “From day 1, I’ve called for a conservative Speaker who will prioritize fighting Biden’s failed policies,” Strong said on X. “From cutting spending, to securing our border— the American people want Congress to get to work. Jim Jordan is the right man to lead our conference as Speaker of the House.” Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL04) also publicly announced he is backing Jordan. “I told @Jim_Jordan on Friday that I fully support him to be the 56th Speaker of the House,” Aderholt announced X. Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) made national headlines on Friday when he announced his angry opposition to Jordan’s bid for the Speaker’s gavel. Less than 48 hours later, Rogers flipped his vote from never Jordan to being a supporter. On Monday, former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-California) came out and urged Republicans to get behind Jordan to end this chaos in Congress. “It’s one thing to get elected. It’s another thing to govern,” McCarthy said. “It’s time to get the House out of this tailspin, come together, and get America back on the right track. @Jim_Jordan can do it.” The previous nominee, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), failed to cobble together the 217 votes needed to win the seat and withdrew rather than being rejected in a floor vote. McCarthy lost 15 floor votes before being selected in June. McCarthy was ultimately toppled when eight disgruntled Republicans led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) voted with Democrats to oust McCarthy as Speaker. While Jordan appears to have united the Republican Conference, it only takes a handful of GOP holdouts to undo his bid, given the GOP’s narrow majority in the House. If he wins, it could take multiple rounds of voting for Jordan to win the Speakership. Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL02), who has been an outspoken supporter of Jordan, is eager for the House to vote. “I look forward to casting my vote for Jim Jordan as the 56th Speaker of the House tomorrow,” Rep. Moore said on X Monday. “Let’s get this done and get back to work for the American people.” Congressmen Gary Palmer (R-AL06) and Jerry Carl (R-AL01) both are also publicly backing Jordan. Whoever is elected as Speaker will be immediately confronted with enormous problems within a very short period. Congress failed to pass a budget for the 2024 fiscal year, which began on October 1. The federal government is operating on a 45-day continuing resolution (C.R.). Congress has until November 14 to send either a budget or another C.R. to President Joe Biden’s desk that he will sign or face a partial government shutdown in an increasingly shaky economy. This side trip into Washington power politics has also left the armed forces in a lurch. Not only is the military operating without a budget, but both Houses have passed competing versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA is stuck in a conference committee while the military faces unprecedented threats from China, Russia, and Iran. In his role as House Judiciary Committee Chairman, Jordan has been focused on investigating Biden’s administration and his son Hunter Biden’s questionable financial dealings. Those investigations and a possible impeachment of the President and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have moved to the background while the Congress has been engulfed in its power struggle. If Jordan is selected as Speaker, his role will change from being the House GOP’s chief prosecutor to its chief negotiator with the Democratic-controlled Senate and President Biden. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
