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Live coverage: Jordan fails in day 2 of speaker bid. Will he try again?

by Joan McCarter for Daily Kos Liveblogs

Daily Kos Staff

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 at 7:57:45am PDT

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 04: U.S. Rep.-elect Jim Jordan (R-OH) listens in the House Chamber during the second day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 04, 2023 in Washington, DC. The House of Representatives is meeting to vote for the next Speaker after House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) failed to earn more than 218 votes on three separate Tuesday ballots, the first time in 100 years that the Speaker was not elected on the first ballot. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Rep. Jim Jordan’s first foray to the floor in his bid to replace former Speaker Kevin McCarthy did not go well, at least not for him. Any day an insurrectionist is not in charge of the House of Representatives is a good one for the nation. Join us here to watch how day 2 unfolds.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 9:32:31 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

I guess this means going into tomorrow without a plan?

HOUSE REPUBLICANS do not expect a conference meeting tonight.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 18, 2023

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 8:56:50 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

When your friends are telling you it’s time to hang it up, oh and also volunteering as tribute, for the good of the team. Sure.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 8:48:54 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Jordan says he’ll keep trying. But the opposition is clearly very much stuck in and (if the reporting is correct) organized and committed to making him lose more every single round he goes. He could just be stubborn and obnoxious enough to not care, to enjoy the chaos he’s causing. On the other hand, damn, it’s embarrassing.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 8:37:49 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

And it’s official.

Republican leadership has announced no further votes are expected in the House today. Next votes are expected no earlier than 12:00 p.m. tomorrow, October 19th.
— Democratic Cloakroom (@DemCloakroom) October 18, 2023

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 8:35:34 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

It's been more than half an hour since reporters started saying they heard there won’t be any more votes tonight, but there’s been crickets from actual leadership (whoever that is) on that. It could just be that they are so disorganized nobody has bothered to adjourn, or there actually could be another vote today.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 8:13:27 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

As they did yesterday, now some of the opposition are calling for an immediate third vote. Today it’s veteran appropriator (and grudge carrier on behalf of his good friend John Boehner) Mike Simpson from Idaho.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 8:03:27 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

It’s as good as official, no more voting tonight. That’s what Jordan has told reporters, and if doesn’t want to keep trying today, that’s that. For now.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 7:56:54 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

In another demonstration of how organized the opposition is, they’ve been putting out a coordinated message that “intimidation” and “threats” won’t make them change their votes. There are also rumors that there won’t be another vote tonight, but that’s not confirmed yet.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 7:37:40 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Democrats haven’t made any decisions on the McHenry Empowerment project. Job one is making sure Jordan is denied the gavel, and they’re feeling pretty good about that. Then they’ll caucus and strategize on what comes next. Foemr Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters “I think is a triumph for democracy in our country that an insurrectionist was rejected by the Republicans again as their candidate for Speaker.”

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 7:21:42 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

The opposition is absolutely more organized than Jordan’s whip operation.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 7:15:57 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

No one knows what’s going on.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 7:10:37 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Turns out the full GOP conference has not been meeting for the last few hours. And they aren’t sure whether or not they will meet. It’s just been Jordan trying to negotiate with individual hold-outs.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 7:01:33 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Oookay, a Civil War battlefield is the place to do this? Seems a little too on the nose, but what do I know.

.@RepMikeGarcia proposes a GOP retreat in Gettysburg where Rs can sequester themselves far from the Beltway, K Street lobbyists and reporters, in order to figure out a way out of the Speaker mess
— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) October 18, 2023

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 6:49:39 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

CNN reports that McCarthy is advising Jordan to keep at it, however many rounds of balloting it takes (again, taking advice from him?), but this part that is troubling: he says that “McHenry can oversee legislative business as interim speaker without a vote of House.” That’s potentially a coup.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 6:06:19 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Now Jordan says he’s sticking with it, and feels he’s “where McCarthy was” at this point, after a second ballot. And look what happened to him!

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 5:59:16 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Hakeem Jeffries has now received more total votes for speaker than any candidate since 1913.

He and McCarthy overtook Sam Rayburn in January. And Jeffries has now overtaken McCarthy, with more than 3,600 votes across 17 ballots.
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) October 18, 2023

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 5:56:08 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

For your eye-rolling pleasure, from Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY):

[T]he four members who changed their minds and voted against Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in this round are acting “very childish, that people are just throwing out random names.”

“Like, this is serious. This is the United States Congress,” she said. “We’re trying to elect a speaker, and you’re just like throwing out, like, random names of people who are not running or are not even members of the House.”

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 5:46:43 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Democrats are heading into a conference soon. That would be a much more fun room to be in than the GOP’s. They’ll probably talk strategy for a potential McHenry empowerment resolution.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 5:36:41 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Mixed messages: he hasn’t decided if he’s going to keep trying and he’s “going to keep going.” Take your pick. There were reports last evening that a number of members who said they would only stick with him for one vote today.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 5:20:24 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

JORDAN spokes says he is NOT dropping out
— Erik Wasson (@elwasson) October 18, 2023

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 5:18:01 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

And Jordan gets his recess. Looks like the motion to empower McHenry will wait.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 5:16:30 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

It’s official. Jordan lost again, 199-212-22. Jeffries wins again!!! Too bad majority doesn’t rule.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 5:11:59 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Jordan is reportedly looking for the House to recess and hasn’t answered if he’s going to go another round. Watch for whether Kelly or Joyce try to get recognition form the chair for their “empower McHenry” motions, and if they do if he recognizes them before recessing.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 5:08:37 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

If you’re trying to keep track, Spartz and LaMalfa flipped to Jordan. Buchanan, Ferguson, Miller Meeks, and Stauber flipped to the opposition.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 5:02:32 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Now the official counters count again and compare their lists and it’ll be gaveled. Then who knows what happens. What it won’t be is Speaker Jim Jordan.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:59:31 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

C-SPAN had a rare on-screen error, giving Dems 213 votes. They fixed it. There are still on 212 Dems and all of the voted for Jeffries.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:57:02 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Rep. Steve Womak (AR) makes it 22 GOP members against Jordan. Now for the missing people. Payne was caught in traffic, got there in time to vote for Jeffries. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN) voted for Jordan.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:50:21 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Rep. Pete Stauber (MN) flips against Jordan, so yes, he has officially done worse than yesterday, losing 21 (so far).

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:48:22 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Missed Carlos Giminez (FL) and Jen Kiggans (VA) when they voted against Jordan, then John Rutherford (FL) and Mike Simpson (ID), so it’s now he’s 20 down. Can he lose worse than yesterday?

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:41:22 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Rep. Mariannette Miller Meeks (IA) is the third to flip against Jordan, votes for Granger. Now 18 against Jordan.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:36:38 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Jordan gets one flip, Doug LaMalfa (CA), but is still down 17.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:33:42 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

LOL. Rep. Mike Kelly (PA) votes for former Speaker John Boehner. Gets a good laugh out of it.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:31:50 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Random vote of the day.

John James vogtes for Candice Miller, public works commissioner of Macomb County.
— Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) October 18, 2023

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:30:52 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Punchbowl people say that the GOP will likely reconvene in private conference following the vote. The beatings will continue until Jordan wins, apparently.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:27:49 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Reps. Andrew Garbarino (NY), Tony Gonzales (TX), and Kay Granger (TX) defect. He’s lost 12 now.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:24:42 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

GOP Reps. Anthony D’Esposito (NY), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL), and Jake Ellzey (TX) all defect from Jordan again. Rep. Drew Ferguson R-GA switches off Jordan and to Scalise. Assuming there aren’t GOP members voting “present,” it’s lost.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:18:56 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Rep. Chavez-DeRemer (OR) goes for McCarthy. That’s four against Jordan.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:17:11 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

GOP Reps. Vern Buchanan (FL) and Ken Buck (FL) vote for Donalds and Emmer.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:13:42 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

GOP Rep. Don Bacon (NE) votes for McCarthy. First defection.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:12:23 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Aguilar notes that Cole didn't mention if Jordan would support assistance to Ukraine if he's elected speaker. Wraps up and Dems stand and chant “Hakeem, Hakeem.”

Roll call voting begins.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:10:30 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

“House Democrats are united,” Aguilar says, on issues and on making Jeffries speaker. He’s really hitting the unity theme on the Democrats’ side, rubbing the GOP’s nose in their disarray.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:08:10 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA), Dem caucus chair, once again nominated Jeffries. Promises to make his speeches shorter if they figure out a compromise. “One thing was very clear yesterday—the vote total…. 212-200. No amount of election denying is going to take away from those totals.”

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 4:01:41 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Cole talks about Jordan’s willingness to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Thanks, Tom! That’ll help Democrats.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 3:56:18 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Gavel down on the attendance vote, and we have 432 on hand. Apparently the missing Dem is Rep. Don Payne. I believe he can still participate in the voting if he shows up. The threshold is still 217 (depending on people voting present).

Rep. Tom Cole (OK) nominates Jordan, possibly an attempt to get the old guard types on board.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 3:39:32 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

As of now, there are two competing resolutions for empowering McHenry. One from Rep. Mike Kelly (PA) would simply give him the reins until Nov. 17, the deadline for the next government funding bill. Rep. David Joyce (IL) has one that would last until Jan. 3 and would spell out he could oversee government funding, and Ukraine/Israel/Taiwan aid. There’s questions from the procedure wonks about whether that second option actually fits within the confines of what’s allowed in a privileged resolution.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 3:19:00 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

The “Call of the House” is taking attendance. Everyone is expected to be present today, for a total of 433 members and a 217 vote requirement (or fewer depending on if members decide to vote present and lower the threshold) to win.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 3:11:29 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

And the House day begins. The House chaplain must feel so discouraged day after day.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Oct 18, 2023 · 3:08:37 PM +00:00 · Joan McCarter

Jordan started the morning insisting he would get there, however many votes it takes. Now he’s essentially conceding a loss in the first round (before it even begins) by saying they’ll vote on the motion to make McHenry speaker pro tem (he’ll have clearer powers as elected pro tem than as interim) but that would allow Democrats to have a say and that would be the end of the world. Or something.