The House remains leaderless and out of operation after Speaker-designate Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) netted a loss of one vote between the first and second round. Several lawmakers are calling for Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) to be temporarily empowered to oversee legislation moving again.
The second Speaker vote tally was 199 for Jordan, 212 for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D) and 22 for someone else. The Hill’s Mychael Schnell reports the next vote is expected tomorrow.
Ahead of the vote, Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio) said he’d introduce a resolution to formally install McHenry, which would give him more power than he currently has as an appointee.
Several Republican lawmakers have expressed support for the pro tem vote, including Jordan, who said earlier today, “I think we got to decide today, are we gonna have a Republican Speaker … or is the body gonna adopt this resolution with the Speaker Pro Temp.”
Some Democrats have expressed openness to the idea, but only Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) has fully endorsed expanding the Speaker Pro Tem’s powers.
Jeffries said Republicans haven’t approached Democratic leaders about a vote to formally install McHenry in the role.
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