Photograph: José Luis Magaña/AP
In the crucible of American politics, the relentless pursuit of power often leads to intricate and, at times, bewildering twists and turns. The latest episode in this unfolding drama, set against the backdrop of a deeply divided House of Representatives, saw Jim Jordan of Ohio’s aspirations for the House speakership thwarted once more.
As the dust settled on Friday, Jordan found himself compelled to exit the race, his bid foiled by a series of secret ballots and his third failed attempt to amass the necessary support to wield the gavel. In the wake of his defeat, a humbled Jordan addressed reporters, stating his intent to “go back to work” and the imperative need for unity within the Republican ranks.
The path ahead, however, remains shrouded in uncertainty. As the clock ticks toward the Sunday noon deadline for speakership candidates to make their intentions known, the Republican party finds itself at a crossroads. Monday evening is the designated moment for candidates to present their cases, with the pivotal vote scheduled for Tuesday. In the meantime, the House, entrusted with the nation’s legislative business, continues to languish without a speaker for nearly three weeks, its core function stymied.
Within the Republican faction, there is a palpable tension between the moderates, who advocate for a consensus candidate, and the far-right, fervently championing Jordan’s cause. Some among the latter camp even declared a willingness to accept censure, suspension, or removal from the conference to secure Jordan’s ascendancy.
In this intriguing political melee, a cadre of Republican House members has either declared their intention to seek the speakership or is contemplating the notion. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the current majority whip and the No. 3 Republican in the chamber, stands as the most prominent contender, backed by the erstwhile speaker, Kevin McCarthy. Meanwhile, others vying for the position include Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Austin Scott of Georgia, Byron Donalds of Florida, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, and Jack Bergman of Michigan.
During the initial floor vote of the speakership election, Jordan faced opposition from 20 House Republicans, leaving him far from the coveted 217-vote threshold required for victory. In subsequent rounds, this resistance grew stronger, with 22 and 25 Republicans opposing Jordan’s candidacy in the second and third votes, respectively. The Republicans’ slender majority in the House meant that Jordan could only withstand four defections from his own party to clinch the speakership.
As this impasse lingers, the House remains paralyzed, unable to advance vital legislation, including measures such as a stopgap government funding bill and aid packages for Israel and Ukraine. With government funding teetering on the precipice of expiration, the specter of a federal shutdown looms ominously.
This sequence of events unfolded mere weeks after the historic ousting of Kevin McCarthy. Eight House Republicans joined forces with Democrats to support a motion to vacate the chair, ultimately leading to McCarthy’s removal. In the wake of this upheaval, the House majority leader, Steve Scalise of Louisiana, initially secured his party’s nomination for the speakership but, beset by staunch opposition from hard-right lawmakers, withdrew from the race.
The path forward for the beleaguered Republicans remains shrouded in uncertainty. One proposed solution, emanating from centrist Democrats and some of Jordan’s critics, involved expanding the powers of the acting speaker, Republican Patrick McHenry of North Carolina. Yet this plan fizzled, prompting constitutional queries regarding the authority of an acting speaker.
Amid this turmoil, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the House Democratic leader, has consistently advocated for a bipartisan governing coalition between Democrats and more moderate Republicans. Even those vehemently opposed to Jordan’s candidacy have been resistant to this idea, but as the House grapples with its prolonged state of inertia, the political landscape may shift.
In a closing plea, Jeffries, who has garnered the most votes in the speakership votes but faces insurmountable odds due to the Democrats’ minority status, beseeched his Republican counterparts to embrace bipartisanship and eschew extremism. In the crucible of American politics, as the tug of war for power continues, the nation watches with bated breath, yearning for a resolution to its legislative impasse.
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