Democrats jeer as McCarthy calls Jordan ‘effective legislator’

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) delivered the nominating speech for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to be the next Speaker, but Democrats laughed at the California lawmaker when he called Jordan an “effective legislator.”

“Jim Jordan is an effective legislator,” he said. “To legislate is about more than the name on the bill. It’s about reaching a compromise and working long hours behind the scenes to get the job done.”

Democrats have derided Jordan in recent days over his scant legislative record. Over his 16 years in office, Congress has never passed a bill that Jordan wrote. 

Jordan failed his third vote to be Speaker Friday, with 25 Republicans against him. Opposition continues to build, after 22 Republicans voted against him Wednesday and 20 on Tuesday.

McCarthy instead went after Democratic leaders, specifically Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.). He derided Aguilar for only passing a single bill of his in Congress, a post office resolution.

“Apparently that’s good enough for caucus chair,” he said. “Democrats are attacking Jim because they don’t want the American people to remember they voted against securing and keeping a wide open border.”

McCarthy held up Jordan as an exemplar of what a Speaker should be, while acknowledging their clashes in the past. The pair faced off against each other to become the GOP majority leader in 2018, a fight McCarthy won.

“Members I know with the most bills to their name are the most selfish. Jim Jordan, on the other hand, is one of the most selfless members I know,” he said. “He is straightforward, honest and reliable. That is who Jim Jordan is and that is what being Speaker is about.”

The House has been without a Speaker for more than two weeks after a group of eight Republicans voted with Democrats to oust McCarthy from the role.

“Trust me, being Speaker is not an easy job, especially in this conference,” McCarthy said. “But I’ve seen Jim spend his entire career fighting for freedom no matter what, no matter the odds. And I know he’s ready for the job.”

After the vote Friday, McCarthy declined to say whether Jordan should continue attempts to take the Speakership.

“I think that’s a question for him,” he said.