Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has convinced key Republicans to support his bid to be the next House Speaker. Jordan spent the weekend making phone calls and meeting with members after a secret ballot Friday indicated about 50 Republicans opposed his nomination.
The new supporters include House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala.
“@Jim_Jordan and I have had two cordial, thoughtful, and productive conversations over the past two days,” Rogers posted on X, formerly Twitter. “We agreed on the need for Congress to pass a strong NDAA, appropriations to fund our government’s vital functions, and other important legislation like the Farm Bill.”
Jordan also gained the backing of Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert, R-Calif., and Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., who had called Jordan a “non-starter”.
While Jordan is winning over lawmakers who had previously opposed him, he’s not out of the woods just yet. He can only lose four Republican votes and some members of the party may vote for Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., as a protest.
SAN caught up with Jordan outside his office.
Jordan: I feel real good. I think we’re close.
Bogan: What’s your message to the members who are still holdouts?
Jordan: Well, it’s just time to come together. You can’t do the work of the American people if you don’t have a speaker. So we need to unite and get a speaker and I think it’s important that the members make this decision, not any kind of pressure from folks around the country. It’s up to members and I feel good about where members are at. We’re having great discussions, so I feel good about tomorrow.
Bogan: Some members say they’re gonna have a challenger on the floor. Are you concerned about that?
Jordan: No.
An official vote for Speaker is expected on the House floor on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at noon, regardless of whether Jordan has the 217 votes he needs to be elected.
