Key takeaways:
- House Republicans failed to elect a permanent speaker for the second time, with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) falling short of the 217 votes needed to win the gavel.
- Some House Republicans are looking to expand the powers of Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC) in the wake of the failed vote.
- The House has been leaderless since McCarthy stepped down in October, and it is unclear how long it will take for the chamber to elect a new speaker.
House Republicans have failed to elect a permanent speaker for the second time, with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) falling short of the 217 votes needed to win the gavel.
In the wake of the failed vote, some House Republicans are looking to expand the powers of Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC). McHenry was tapped by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) at the beginning of the term to fill in temporarily if McCarthy could no longer serve.
On Wednesday morning, Jordan won 199 votes, one fewer than the 200 he secured on the first ballot on Tuesday. 22 Republicans withheld their support and voted for a variety of protest candidates.
Rep. Dan Crewnshaw (R-TX) told TPM that “there is some talk” about expanding McHenry’s powers. It remains unclear, however, if this will be enough to break the deadlock and elect a permanent speaker.
The House has been leaderless since McCarthy stepped down in October. It is unclear how long it will take for the chamber to elect a new speaker, or what the outcome of the vote will be. In the meantime, House Republicans will continue to search for a way out of their self-induced dysfunction.
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