Jim Jordan loses third speaker vote as chaos continues to grip Congress

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) lost his third vote for Speaker of the House on Friday.

Friday's vote followed the previous two, which saw him opposed by 20 Republicans and 22 Republicans, respectively. On Thursday, he said he was stepping aside in favor of temporary Speaker Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) But he did an about-turn after a GOP caucus meeting reacted hostilely to the McHenry plan.

A right-wing firebrand lawmaker who has led key House GOP investigations against Democrats and perceived political enemies, Jordan was nominated as the GOP's candidate for speaker after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), the party's first pick, bowed out just a day after his nomination when it became clear many of the same faction that ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in the first place would block his confirmation as well.

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But Jordan has angered a number of Republicans in vulnerable House districts, who don't want to be associated with his extreme record — tension that has only been inflamed as these members, like Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) complained that they received threats targeted at them and their families from Jordan supporters.

Hours prior to the vote, Jordan gave a defiant press conference intended to pressure holdouts, that left many onlookers confused.