Jim Jordan is reportedly well on his way to becoming the next speaker of the House of Representatives, according to one congressional observer’s unofficial tally.
As he uncovers statements of support from House members, Jake Sherman, the founder of Punchbowl News, has been posting and re-posting them. This led him to conclude early Monday afternoon that, contrary to what some Democratic House members may prefer to believe, the Ohio Republican is likely to become the next speaker.
The most likely path forward at this point, based on all available evidence, is that Jordan is very close to becoming the 56th speaker of the House. https://t.co/oF5zYnjeCH
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 16, 2023
Sherman reported on X, the former Twitter, that Jordan was holding meetings with Republican congressmen who had not yet endorsed him in the hopes of securing a first-ballot victory on Tuesday.
JORDAN TODAY: @Jim_Jordan is holding one-on-one meetings with holdouts/people on the fence. No delegation meetings.
Locking up rogers was big. Jordan trying to get some more support as tomorrow approaches.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 16, 2023
Sherman was alluding to a sequence of X posts authored by Alabama Representative Mike Rogers, who declared his support for Jordan in the anticipated speakership vote on Tuesday. Rogers made the announcement on Monday.
As a result, I have decided to support Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House on the floor. (2/3)
— Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) October 16, 2023
“Together, our Republican majority will be stronger to fight Joe Biden’s reckless agenda for America,” Rogers wrote in announcing his support of Jordan.
As a result, I have decided to support Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House on the floor. (2/3)
— Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) October 16, 2023
Conversely, on Monday, California representative Ken Calvert also declared his support for Jordan from across the nation.
And another
Defense Approps cardinal is now for Jordan https://t.co/QwwOTKWfUv
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 16, 2023
Sherman described Missouri Representative Ann Wagner as a close ally of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. On Monday, Wagner announced her support for Representative Jordan for speaker, following Scalise’s withdrawal from the race.
ANN WAGNER, probably one of Scalise's top allies in the House, is now for Jim Jordan.
Three massive endorsements for the GOP speaker designate this morning.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 16, 2023
Jim Jordan and I spoke at length again this morning, and he has allayed my concerns about keeping the government open with conservative funding, the need for strong border security, our need for consistent international support in times of war and unrest…
— Ann Wagner (@RepAnnWagner) October 16, 2023
Precisely astute Speaker Kevin McCarthy also expressed his support for Jordan during his Monday morning appearance on “Fox & Friends.”
It's one thing to get elected. It's another thing to govern.
It's time to get the House out of this tailspin, come together, and get America back on the right track.@Jim_Jordan can do it. pic.twitter.com/gTk23QB9NM
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) October 16, 2023
“It’s one thing to get elected,” he told host Brian Kilmeade. “It’s another thing to govern.”
According to The Hill, Jordan secured the Republican nomination for the speakership last week with 124 ballots. However, he fell significantly short of the approximately 217 votes required to advance to the floor vote on Tuesday.