Republican Jim Jordan has lost the first vote in his bid to become US House of Representatives Speaker after stiffer-than-expected opposition from members of his own party.
A group of politicians were trying to choose a leader for an important position in the House of Representatives. One person, who is known for supporting former President Trump, wanted the job. However, some members of his own party didn’t vote for him. Because of this, they couldn’t decide on a leader, which means they can’t pass any new laws or help out in emergencies. This also affects their ability to support Israel during their conflict with another group called Hamas.
The person who wanted the job got 200 votes, but he needed 217 to win. Another person from a different party got more votes, but they’re not in charge, so it didn’t count. The person who wants the job said he’s going to keep trying and thinks he’ll eventually win.
He can only afford to lose four votes from his own party, and they have more members than the other party. They were supposed to vote again on Tuesday, but now they’re going to do it on Wednesday instead.
Some Republicans from New York didn’t vote for him because he disagreed with them on some important issues, like helping the survivors of the 9/11 attacks. But another Republican from New York said he’s a strong supporter of their values.
- Here’s what happens next
- Who is Speaker nominee Jim Jordan?
- What does the US Speaker of the House do?
Mr Jordan has a record of feuding with members of his own party. He is a founding member of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, a group once labelled “legislative terrorists” by former Republican Speaker John Boehner.
After the vote on Tuesday, Mr. Jordan talked to some of the Republicans who didn’t vote for him. Some of them said they won’t change their minds, and a few might even join them.
One Republican, Ken Buck from Colorado, said Mr. Jordan still hasn’t accepted that Donald Trump lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden. Another, Mario Diaz-Balart from Florida, said he doesn’t feel any pressure to change his vote. He mentioned that trying to push him might actually make negotiations harder.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer from Oregon, who also didn’t vote for Jordan, suggested giving temporary leader Patrick McHenry more power to keep the House working.
Byron Donalds, a Republican from Florida who supports Mr. Jordan, said he was surprised that so many people voted against him.
Democrats are happy about the problems among Republicans. They’re calling Mr. Jordan an extremist. Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, said Jordan didn’t realize how many people were against him. She said Republicans needed to learn how to count.
Democratic leader Mr. Jeffries said they’re willing to work with Republicans to find a Speaker that both parties like. He mentioned that since it’s clear Mr. Jordan doesn’t have enough votes, they can start looking for someone else.
If support for Mr. Jordan falls apart, the next person in line to become Speaker is Tom Emmer from Minnesota. He’s the third most important Republican in the House.
The previous Speaker, Mr. McCarthy, needed 15 rounds of voting over four days in January to become Speaker.
Some Republicans, including Mr. Jordan, strongly opposed funding for the war in Ukraine. This disagreement played a big role in the vote that removed Mr. McCarthy from his position this month.
Being Speaker is a very important role and is second in line to become President after the Vice President.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67138067
SOURCE:BBC