Republican centrists have earned a derisive reputation as "squishes" in the face of the party's rightward drift, but they so far have stood up against hardline Rep. Jim Jordan's (R-OH) bid to become House speaker.
One GOP aide said moderates faced a choice once Jordan got the nomination -- allow him to become speaker or "grow a spine" -- but nearly two dozen moderates, including a handful of powerful House veterans, have united against his pressure campaign to deny him the speaker's gavel, reported Politico.
“The adults were fed up,” said one top aide to a member who opposes Jordan. “They knew they had to act now or never.”
The centrist rebellion has put Jordan's candidacy on the ropes, and his allies are scrambling after their conservative media pressure campaign backfired with many members, and he must show significant progress Wednesday morning to remain viable.
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Jordan has long been more of a bomb-thrower than a fundraiser or bridge-builder, and some senior Republicans believe members will grow impatient and move on if he's unable to attract more votes in another round or two of voting, although his camp points to Kevin McCarthy's onerous path to becoming speaker.
“It took McCarthy 15 ballots; we’re only at one,” said one Jordan ally. “This might be a waiting game.”
