WASHINGTON — In the nation’s capital, there is still no breakthrough in the struggle to elect a leader for the House of Representatives. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is seeking a third vote for speaker, despite losing the first two rounds of balloting. On Thursday, Republicans considered a plan to grant the interim speaker more power temporarily in order for the chamber to resume routine business. It was quickly abandoned, however. 

What You Need To Know

  • Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is seeking a third vote for speaker, despite losing the first two rounds of balloting

  • On Thursday, Republicans considered a plan to grant the interim speaker more power temporarily in order for the chamber to resume routine business. It was later abandoned

  • Two days in a row, the same three Texas House Republicans declined to vote for Jordan

  • Some Texas Democrats call Jordan too extreme

With his own bid for House speaker stalled, Jordan urged his colleagues to back the unprecedented plan. That would have given Jordan more time to round up the votes to win the top job himself. But the plan fell flat among his Republican colleagues, in part because it likely needed Democratic support. 

“Hey, American people, I just want to let you know you gave the Republican conference the ability to lead. You gave us a gavel. You’re begging for leadership,” said Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Richmond. “But what we’re going to do is, we’re going to lead by bringing Democrats on board. Sickening, quite honestly.”

“We need to quit focusing on individuals and the petty differences between us within our conference, and we need to come together behind a united speaker, and then deal with the worldwide issues that are of utmost importance,” said Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Tyler.

Before he was ousted as speaker more than two weeks ago, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R- California, had named Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-North Carolina, to be his interim replacement until a new speaker could be elected.

On Thursday, McCarthy argued that an interim speaker already has the power to oversee House operations. But some hardline Texas Republicans say giving the interim full powers is unconstitutional. 

“Any move to do otherwise is contrary to the Constitution and would do enormous damage to not just the Republican Party, but the House of Representatives and I violently oppose any effort to do that on the floor of the House,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin.

There are some House Republicans from Texas who are open to temporarily empowering McHenry so the House can tackle pressing issues like approving new aid to Israel and Ukraine.

“Arguing with each other about who’s the most popular, that’s not real work. The real work is done on our committees. It’s passing legislation, and we need to get back to that,” said Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston.

Two days in a row, the same three Texas House Republicans declined to vote for Jordan. They are Appropriations Committee chair Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, and appropriations members Rep. Jake Ellzey, R-Waxahachie, and Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio. Ellzey and Gonzales are also Navy veterans.

Thursday, there seemed to be little indication that he’d win them over.

“If Jim can’t make it, then we’ve got to go back to the drawing board. I’ll give him more time. He’d be great as speaker. But at some point, what’s the definition of insanity? Doing the exact same thing, expecting a different result,” said Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Sherman.

Some Texas Democrats call Jordan too extreme.

“I don’t know how long it will take for members of the Republican conference in the House to recognize that the only path forward is a bipartisan one. The longer we delay, the closer to a shutdown we get,” said, Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, in a call with journalists Thursday. “I really do hope that there are there’s some soul searching by some of the moderate members of the Republican conference and that we begin to work in a more unified way. The country needs it, and the globe needs it.”