The continuing battle for the gavel might have a new Republican contender if speaker-designee Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) fails to secure the votes needed on the House floor.
Multiple GOP members are floating Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) as an interested candidate if Jordan is short 217 votes, per a source familiar.
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Johnson, the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference, said on Friday that he’ll support Jordan for the top job. Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, Johnson said many members across the GOP conference have urged him to make a run, but he will back Jordan: “I have decided at this time not to enter the race but to defer to one of my closest friends and brothers, Jim Jordan.”
I have been humbled to have many Members from across our Conference reach out to encourage me to seek the nomination for Speaker. After much prayer &deliberation, I have decided at this time not to enter the race but to defer to one of my closest friends and brothers, Jim Jordan.
— Rep. Mike Johnson (@RepMikeJohnson) October 13, 2023
House Republicans voted 124-81 in a closed-door meeting Friday to select Jordan and their next nominee for speaker, defeating a new challenger, Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), who entered the race that day. Jordan’s nomination comes one day after former nominee Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) dropped out of the race when it became clear he would not have the majority GOP support required to secure the gavel.
Johnson serves as chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, falling under the House Judiciary Committee, which Jordan leads. Johnson stated he would help his “trusted friend” and “brother,” Jordan, in his pursuit of the speaker’s gavel.
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“Jim Jordan is our elected GOP Conference nominee, arguably our best known conservative champion, and a trusted friend & brother to me,” Johnson said Friday on X. “I am doing all I can to help him become our next Speaker so we can get Congress reopened & return quickly to American people’s urgent business.”
A second secret ballot vote on Friday asked members if they would support Jordan on the House floor as the nominee, and Jordan fell short of 217. The total came out to 152 yes votes, 55 no votes, and one person voting present. It remains unclear if Jordan can scrabble enough support needed to fill the speaker vacancy.
