Jordan calls for unity after failing to secure Speakership

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is calling on his colleagues to unite just hours after failing to secure enough votes for the Speakership on Tuesday.

“We must stop attacking each other and come together. There’s too much at stake. Let’s get back to working on the crisis at the southern border, inflation, and helping Israel,” Jordan wrote on X, formerly Twitter. 

Jordan only clinched 200 votes on his first ballot effort Tuesday afternoon, falling short of the necessary 217 votes to become Speaker. The House is now scheduled to hold a second Speakership vote at 11 a.m. Wednesday as Jordan looks to shore up support among the GOP conference.

Despite losing 20 GOP votes in the first round of voting, Jordan still expressed confidence after the vote. It’s unclear whether enough Republicans will back him in the second ballot slated for Wednesday morning. 

“We’re making progress. … We’re gonna keep going,” Jordan told reporters Tuesday evening. “I’ve had great conversations, great discussions with our colleagues. And frankly no one in our conference wants to see any type of coalition government with Democrats.”

When asked how many ballots he is willing to go through, Jordan responded: “Till we get a Speaker.”

The House has now been without a Speaker for two weeks, after eight Republicans sided with Democrats to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the top spot earlier this month.