Rep. Jim Jordan fell short a third time in his quest for the speaker’s gavel, losing more Republican support on the House floor than he did in the first two rounds of voting.
The conservative firebrand from Ohio hasn’t indicated when or if he plans to drop out.
At a morning press conference before the vote, a defiant Mr. Jordan said nothing about stepping aside. He told reporters lawmakers would remain in session through the weekend if needed.
“Our plan this weekend is to get a speaker elected to the House of Representatives,” Mr. Jordan said. “We need to get to work for the American people. We can’t do that if the House isn’t open and we can’t open the House until we get a speaker.”
To be elected speaker, a candidate needs roughly 217 votes to win the speaker’s gavel.
Mr. Jordan on Friday garnered 194 votes from Republicans. He got 199 on Wednesday and 200 in the first round of voting on Tuesday.
More than two dozen holdouts have remained firm in their opposition, many of them appropriators who do not like Mr. Jordan’s desire to slash spending. Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger is one of them. She voted for Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana on Friday.
The House has entered a third week without being able to legislate. House rules prohibit anyone other than an elected speaker from running the House.
In Friday’s vote, several lawmakers voted for Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina. He was appointed temporary speaker, a post with limited powers. Some Republicans want to elect Mr. McHenry as speaker temporarily, which would authorize him to conduct legislative business in the now-paralyzed chamber.
Many Republicans rejected the McHenry plan on Thursday in a closed-door GOP meeting but that could change.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.
• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.