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There won't be a new speaker today

by Joan McCarter for Daily Kos Liveblogs

Daily Kos Staff

Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 at 8:53:00am PDT

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 09: Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) speaks during an on-camera interview near the House Chambers during a series of votes in the U.S. Capitol Building on January 09, 2023 in Washington, DC. During 118th Congress's first day of business since electing a Speaker of the House, the House held a series of votes on a rules package with parameters for the House of Representatives. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) — Jim Jordan.

Are House Republicans so tired of chaos and embarrassment that they’ll make MAGA Rep. Jim Jordan the new speaker of the House? And how many rounds of voting might it take? The one thing we do know is that Democrats remain united behind their nominee: leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Follow along here.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 9:29:44 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

What happens now? There’s a possibility of speaker votes on Monday evening, but that assumes Jordan can actually overcome a big deficit over the weekend. He’s such a divisive figure, even within his own conference, it’s hard to imagine he can do it. He need to come in strong this morning and steamroll his way through. That—thankfullly—did not work.

I suspect there will be a lot of Republicans who won’t have their phones with them this weekend, trying to stay out of his and his team’s reach.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 9:24:25 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

It’s great to see the unity among Dems, but also to see how many of them stuck around late on a Friday to guard against any GOP shenanigans on the floor, any attempt for Jordan to sneak by them.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 9:22:26 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Too bad this had to come late on a Friday, but it really is a great display of unity on the part of Democrats. Aguilar up now, speaking about Jordan as a “threat to our democracy...our national security…. He has one objective: hurt President Biden and help Trump.”

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 9:20:00 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

“Every Republican who casts their vote for him is siding with an insurrectionist against our democracy,” Clark says.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 9:18:31 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Whip Katherine Clark up next, reiterating that the Dems’ nominee is indeed Hakeem Jeffries, and dumping on “legislative terrorist” Jordan (Boehner’s descriptor). They have a lot of material on Jordan.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 9:15:40 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

This is going to be a main talking point for Dems: Jordan “has not passed a single bill” in his congressional career, because he’s been too committed to partisan politics.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 9:14:26 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Jordan is “the chairman of the chaos caucus, a defender in a dangerous way of dysfunction, and an extremist extraordinaire,” Jeffries said, then went on to reiterate all of the things a Democratic congress achieved with President Biden in just two years.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 9:12:40 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

“We want to find a bipartisan path to reopening the House,” but they’ve gone the way of extremism with Jordan.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 9:10:52 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Democrats are on the Capitol steps now. Ready to begin. Jeffries once again says Dems are there to put people over politics and are there to extend the offer, again, to Republicans to work for the people in a bipartisan way.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 9:08:37 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

This is not going to help sway the Scalise folks, since McCarthy not only did NOT do this for Scalise, he dumped on him yesterday.

Per one source familiar, McCarthy and McHenry stood up and said Jordan will be speaker and called on members to get behind him despite the vote count.
— Juliegrace Brufke (@juliegraceb) October 13, 2023

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 9:04:23 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

C-SPAN1 says they will carry the Dem presser when it starts. So we’re waiting for it to start.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 8:52:03 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

They’re not just calling it a day, they’re taking the weekend, which isn’t a huge surprise. Stick around for the Jeffries press conference in a few minutes, though.

Oh, and happy Friday the 13th.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 8:47:47 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

According to two separate sources, the GOP is calling it a day.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 8:42:53 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

A lot of “no” votes there. I don’t see Jordan trying to twist that many arms late on a Friday. We’ll see.

NEWS: 152-55 House Rs on the ballot question of whether they will support Jordan question, per source.
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) October 13, 2023

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 8:39:07 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is scheduled to speak outside the Capitol at 5pm.
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) October 13, 2023

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 8:31:40 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Just to be clear, 81 votes for “some dude” who was on no one's radar and who said himself that the last thing on his mind when he woke up this morning was running for speaker is a lot of votes against Jordan.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 8:25:14 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

The “would you vote for him on the floor” question is a secret ballot, which makes all the difference. Why change your vote if Jordan doesn’t know how you voted and can’t directly threaten you?

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 8:18:08 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Unclear if this is a secret vote or not.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS are doing a second ballot right now on JORDAN.

"Will you support Jordan on the floor."
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 13, 2023

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 8:13:20 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

“That’s embarrassing” says a senior Dem member to reporter Nicholas Wu, re: Jordan’s vote total.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 8:09:25 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Jordan got “around” 124 votes, according to early report, Scott got 81. That’s a lot of minds to change.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 8:06:33 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

First report out of the room is unsurprising: Jordan won. By how much is the question that matters going forward.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 8:03:44 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Some of the Dem “Problem Solvers” have extended an offer to interim Speaker Pro Tem McHenry to give him more, but still limited, powers to deal with the critical stuff. If Republicans remain at a total impasse, that offer might turn into something real.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 7:58:43 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

They’re counting the secret ballots now. By the way, I’ve been trying to find out how many Democrats are on the Hill today, because I suspect that what happens next depends on if there are more than 209 of them around.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 7:47:22 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

She’s not wrong about the 2025 House majority. But a Jordan speakership is by no means something Dems should welcome.

Jim Jordan was involved in Trump's conspiracy to steal the election and seize power; he urged that Pence refuse to count lawful electoral votes. If Rs nominate Jordan to be Speaker, they will be abandoning the Constitution. They’ll lose the House majority and they’ll deserve to.
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) October 13, 2023

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 7:37:06 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

I would imagine this scenario depends on how many Democrats are there. But it fits with what we’ve seen so far.

There’s a view among House Rs that Jordan holdouts will likely cave if the vote is brought to the House floor

Have heard Jordan’s team is eager to quickly bring it to a floor vote
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) October 13, 2023

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 7:32:49 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

It appears from this thread from a Hill reporter, the first vote will be secret. If Jordan wins it but not with what’s close to enough votes, he can ask for unanimous consent to do a second roll call vote, where members have to say who they’re voting for. That would allow him to browbeat opponents directly.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 7:25:04 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Rep. George Santos just had an extremely performative meltdown in the hall over, apparently, an encounter with a visitor about Israel. Because he hasn’t garnered enough attention this week?

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 7:15:15 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Voting is allegedly starting any minute now.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 6:59:22 PM +00:00 · Laura Clawson

Manu Raju reports House Republicans are taking a break, then having nominating speeches, and then getting to the vote.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 6:53:57 PM +00:00 · Laura Clawson

Sean Hannity is whipping votes for Jordan. Not that Fox news is a wing of the Republican Party or anything.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 6:36:17 PM +00:00 · Laura Clawson

Vern Buchanan told me he’s not backing Jim Jordan. “Steve Scalise – the way they dealt with him yesterday was wrong.” Asked if he thought Jordan should have endorsed Scalise right away: “Yeah, in a much more aggressive way.”
Buchanan predicts 4 more candidates will jump into race
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 13, 2023

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 6:15:18 PM +00:00 · Laura Clawson

Rep. Mike Rogers will be voting for McCarthy.

Rep. Mike Collins doesn’t seem optimistic:

If we all get a chance to be voted on as speaker, are we going alphabetically or by class? Trying to plan Thanksgiving travel.
— Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) October 13, 2023

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 6:08:56 PM +00:00 · Laura Clawson

REP. AUSTIN SCOTT said in the House Republican Conference meeting that he would vote for Jim Jordan on the floor if he was the nominee.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 13, 2023

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 5:59:28 PM +00:00 · Laura Clawson

Issa endorses Jordan. Issa is next in line for the judiciary chair gavel, which will open up if Jordan wins the speakership. https://t.co/s66GA0jTNe
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 13, 2023

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 5:39:17 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Another wavering non-extremist GOPer:

MARIO DIAZ-BALART, a close scalise ally, says he isn’t sure if he’s voting for Scott or Jordan. He indicated all day jordan may not be fit to be speaker.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 13, 2023

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 5:29:29 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

This might be a reflection of the Democrats’ preparation for a sneak attack by Jordan—he told CNN’s Manu Raju that the vote might not be today. “We’ll see how the candidate forum goes. We feel good, but we do have members both Republican and Democrat members who aren’t in time [sic] … you’ve got to allow some time to get back.”

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 5:22:32 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

This is completely believable, from a Politico reporter: “Some Rs believe Jordan allies/HFC world are trying put pressure on Jordan holdouts. Multiple NRCC patriots have received ‘veiled threats’ from Jordan allies, a senior GOP aide tells me.”

The conference/forum in the GOP is happening now. Will end with a candidate chosen. Or not. I guess it depends on how threatening team Jordan is.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 5:07:42 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

The GOP is supposed to be meeting now, but there’s a wrinkle—a White House meeting with top lawmakers on Israel, that has acting speaker pro tempore McHenry and a few committee chairs busy.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 5:02:52 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Over at CNN, Harry Enten did the complicated House GOP math. Worth a watch if that aspect of it confounds you sometimes (like it does me).

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 4:55:06 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Politico: “Translation: The number of people who vote for Austin will be a slightly overstated proxy for the Never Jordan people. … Others are keeping their powder dry until Jordan realizes he has no path to 217,” said one House Republican, speaking on condition of anonymity.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 4:38:48 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

I wrote this last night and early this morning. Since then, there’s been another sign of caving from the establishment GOP: Idaho’s Mike Simpson says he’ll go with Jordan if he has to. This is the concerning thing—a conference grasping at straws to the extent they’ll just give in and let Jordan have it.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 4:29:03 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

McCarthy is backing Jordan. FWIW.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 4:25:31 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Some background—he was the 2010 freshman class president and has been a “never Jordan” guy. Scott is more or less a test for the Jordan opponents to see how strong the opposition is. Remember, Jordan got just 99 votes against Scalise.

I have filed to be Speaker of the House. We are in Washington to legislate, and I want to lead a House that functions in the best interest of the American people.
— Rep. Austin Scott (@AustinScottGA08) October 13, 2023

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 4:21:36 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

According to plan, there’s a vote between Jordan and Scott at 1:00 ET. Democrats have been notified that a floor vote is possible today.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 4:07:26 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Jordan will have opposition. Candidates had until noon ET to declare, and Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia is in.

UPDATE: Friday, Oct 13, 2023 · 3:59:04 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Jordan appears intent on trying to ram this through today, but he’s got a bit of an attendance problem. There are just 209 Republicans there today. If they’re outnumbered by Democrats, then he can’t risk trying to take it to the floor and ending up with Speaker Hakeem Jeffries.