House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) said a vote to select a new Speaker of the House is expected Tuesday at noon, Reuters reported.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) secured the Republican nomination for the seat Friday, after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), who had won the Republican nomination for the role, dropped out of the race the day prior.
But with the GOP holding just a slight majority in the House, it’s unclear if Jordan will gather enough votes to secure the position. Republicans can only sacrifice four votes to win — and some Republicans are staunchly against a Jordan Speakership.
And after clinching the nomination from his GOP colleagues, a second vote Friday asking members if they would support Jordan as the nominee on the House floor tallied at 152-55, falling far short of the 217 votes needed to win the gavel.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has emphasized the need for bipartisanship as the race for Speaker develops, arguing Jordan was “a defender in a dangerous way of dysfunction, and an extremist extraordinaire.” Jeffries said Sunday that “informal conversations” are taking place to find a bipartisan solution to the Speakership.
“We want to ensure that votes are taken on bills that have substantial Democratic support and substantial Republican support, so that the extremists aren’t able to dictate the agenda,” Jeffries said.
Democrats unanimously put Jeffries forward to be Speaker last week, but the minority leader is even less likely than Jordan to rally enough votes, given the GOP majority.
The top House position has been vacant since the House ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Oct. 3, the first time in history that a Speaker has been removed from the role. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) is serving as acting Speaker, but the House cannot vote on legislation without a confirmed leader.