Jim Jordan getting hung out to dry by former rival after rushing ahead to speaker vote
October 18, 2023
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) appears to be hanging Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) out to dry in his stalled bid for House speaker.
Two sources told The Daily Beast that Jordan wanted the Louisiana Republican to nominate him on the second ballot, which he hoped would signal to Scalise allies they should fall in line, but they never actually reached an agreement on the nomination – and the tension is growing worse.
“Members outside of the immediate Jordan team have suggested that the Scalise allies are actively whipping with the tacit approval of Steve Scalise,” said a source involved with Jordan's operation.
Scalise won the GOP nomination last week to replace the ousted Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), but he withdrew his name from contention after falling short of the 217 votes needed, but Jordan has also fallen well short of that threshold and so far is refusing to step aside.
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“Attacking members and laying the blame anywhere but your own feet when you’re 20 votes down shows you don’t know the first thing about bridging divides,” a senior GOP aide said. “This is 2013 Jim Jordan all over again and it shows he’s not mature enough to lead the conference.”
Jordan helped orchestrate a government shutdown back then in an effort to defund the Affordable Care Act, but his gambit failed and Republicans ultimately reopened the government on Oct. 17, 2013 – exactly 10 years to the day that his speaker bid fell short.