Some of Rep. Jim Jordan’s supporters were pulling out all of the stops in his quest for the speakership position, including anonymously texting and emailing the wife of a Republican lawmaker who voted against him.
Angie Bacon, wife of Rep. Don Bacon, received texts Tuesday warning that her husband could lose his seat if he doesn’t vote for Mr. Jordan. The Nebraska Republican had not voted for Mr. Jordan during the House speaker vote Tuesday afternoon, instead opting for former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted from the position just weeks ago.
“Why is your husband causing chaos by not supporting Jim Jordan? I thought he was a team player,” said one of the multiple texts received by Mrs. Bacon and shared with Politico.
“Who is this???” Mrs. Bacon replied, shooting back, “Oh now you have nothing to say???”
The anonymous texter then threatened Mr. Bacon’s career, calling him a “disappointment” and a “failure.”
The lawmaker’s wife replied, “He has more courage than you. You won’t put your name to your statements.”
Mr. Jordan, Ohio Republican, lost the first round of votes for the position. He needed 217 votes to win, but didn’t achieve enough party support.
Mr. Bacon told Politico that “Jim’s been nice, one-on-one, but his broader team has been playing hardball.”
Another text to his wife asked her to talk to her husband and “tell him to step up and be a leader and help the Republican Party get a speaker there’s too much going on in the world for all this going on in the Republican Party.”
“You guys take five steps forward and then turn around take 20 steps backwards no wonder our party ends up getting screwed over,” it said.
Other Republicans told Politico that they had received calls from conservative leaders, but they believe that Mr. Jordan isn’t directly involved.
“I think some of it did backfire…and I think it was to the detriment of Jim,” Rep. Bryon Donalds said to reporters about the actions that have been taken to get Mr. Jordan elected. The Florida Republican voted for Mr. Jordan.
On X Tuesday night, Mr. Jordan wrote that the party needs to come together.
“We must stop attacking each other and come together. There’s too much at stake,” he wrote. “Let’s get back to working on the crisis at the southern border, inflation, and helping Israel.”
The House is expected to vote again Wednesday to elect a new speaker.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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