Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is working to make conservative firebrand Rep. Jim Jordan his successor but conceded Sunday it’s unclear whether he will be able to secure enough support in a floor vote scheduled for Tuesday.
“I think Jim Jordan can get there. I’m one who understands how difficult it is,” Mr. McCarthy said on the Fox News program “Sunday Morning Futures.” I did walk in with more support during this time, but I believe at the end of day Jim can get there.”
House Republicans nominated Mr. Jordan during a secret ballot behind closed doors last week after Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana dropped out of the race due to a lack of support.
But dozens of Republicans have signaled opposition to Mr. Jordan, raising questions about whether he can secure the required votes in Tuesday’s vote.
Mr. Jordan can only afford a handful of defectors.
Asked whether Mr. Jordan currently has the votes, Mr. McCarthy responded, “as we walked away [last week], he did not.”
SEE ALSO: House to vote Tuesday on electing Jim Jordan as speaker
“He’s talking to every single member, accessing what their challenges are,” Mr. McCarthy continued. “We’ve got to be able to work together. The real challenge here is eight Republicans did something no one [would’ve] thought: Work with every single Democrat to disrupt our nation.”
The House has been paralyzed since Mr. McCarthy’s ouster and unable to conduct normal business or pass legislation, escalating the pressure on Republicans to choose a new speaker as war breaks out in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas.
Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer told reporters Sunday during a visit to Tel Aviv that the chamber will pass a bipartisan military aid package for Israel in the coming weeks, a move the New York Democrat said will hopefully further press House Republicans.
Mr. McCarthy said he does not believe other Republicans like Reps. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma and Mike Johnson of Louisiana could get the support to become speaker. He predicted they would come up “very short.”
Tuesday’s floor vote is scheduled for noon, which will be the two-week mark for the House lacking a speaker.
Mr. Jordan will need 217 votes to clench the gavel, an uphill climb that could require several rounds of voting and more negotiations with GOP holdouts.
SEE ALSO: Nikki Haley says House Republicans ‘need to get it together’ over speakership turmoil
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
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