EXCLUSIVE: Four of the House Republicans who voted against Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, in the House speaker race on Tuesday said they would do so again, putting Jordan in a position where he can’t lose to other members of the GOP and prevail.
Jordan Monday fell 17 votes short of the 217 votes needed to win the gavel after 20 GOP lawmakers voted against him. While more than four opposition votes would sink Jordan into the second round, a strong improvement from Monday could still put him in a position to prevail in the next round.
Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., who voted for Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., instead, has not changed his position on Jordan, his office indicated to Fox News Digital. Buck previously expressed reservations about Jordan’s support for former President Trump’s 2020 election claims.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Another GOP lawmaker, Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., vowed to continue to vote for ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on the House floor. His spokesman said his mind remains unchanged Wednesday morning, and Gimenez himself told Fox News Digital that he now supports a GOP push to temporarily empower interim Speaker Patrick McHenry. RN.C., to pass legislation while House Republicans work to agree on a candidate.
A spokesperson for Rep. Fox News Digital’s Nick LaLota, RN.Y., on comments the freshman Republican made to CNN also supports McHenry’s efforts. LaLota voted Tuesday for former New York GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin.
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., was still voting against Jordan on Wednesday, his spokesman told Fox News Digital. He voted for Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.
