Frustrated House lawmakers could elect a temporary speaker Wednesday

A moderate House Republican plans to bring up a motion on the House floor as early as Wednesday to elect Rep. Patrick McHenry as temporary speaker while Republicans grapple with a leadership vacuum.

Rep. David Joyce of Ohio, who heads a faction of moderates in the Republican Governance Group, could pair with Democrats to give Mr. McHenry the power to run the House while Republicans find a candidate who can win enough votes to fill the job permanently.

The Republican Governance Group met privately Tuesday and endorsed the plan.

Mr. McHenry, North Carolina Republican, was appointed temporary chair on Oct. 3 after a group of eight ultraconservatives voted with Democrats to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Under the rules of the House, only an elected speaker can conduct legislative business. Lawmakers have been increasingly frustrated with the paralyzed House floor, now going on three weeks.

Rep. Jim Jordan, a firebrand conservative from Ohio, failed to win enough votes on Tuesday and is expected to try a second time on Wednesday.

As the House enters a third week paralyzed without a full-time speaker, some lawmakers want to hold a vote to elect to give Mr. McHenry the power to run the chamber.

“Do I think that we should at least in the meantime look for a way to move our agenda forward? I think that’s probably a very prudent, smart move,” Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida Republican, said.

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York Democrat, said he would consider voting with Republicans to give Mr. McHenry the authority to run the House floor.

It takes roughly 217 votes to elect a speaker. Republicans have 221 votes. Democrats have 212.

“I have respect for Patrick McHenry. I think he is respected on our side of the aisle. There are a whole host of other Republicans who are respected on our side of the aisle, Jim Jordan is not one of them,” Mr. Jeffries said.