Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is marching ahead with his Speakership bid despite increasingly grim signs for his path to the gavel, eyeing another floor vote on Thursday even as GOP lawmakers signal that his opposition is likely to grow.
“The expectation is, at least from the chatter I’m hearing, is that there will be some others that will move away from the Jordan candidacy,” Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), who voted for Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) on the first two ballots, told reporters Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s very clear that those numbers are not there and that it’s gonna get a lot worse,” Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), who also backed Scalise in the first two rounds of voting, said after Jordan’s second failed vote, noting that he does not think he has a path to the gavel.
One centrist Republican who supported Jordan on the first two ballots said they are planning to jump ship.
“I committed to two votes. I’m not able to on the 3rd,” the lawmaker told The Hill in a text message.
Another Republican told The Hill that slowly increasing the number of votes against Jordan is a strategy among those opposing the Ohio Republican.
It’s sad that “moderate” in this context means that someone can compromise, work cooperatively, and not resort to lying about other political views.
This is where parliamentary systems can sometimes force cooperation. The US setup kind of pushes towards two parties.