Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) saw the House of Representatives again reject his bid to become speaker on Friday ― this time by the biggest margin yet, after some of his fellow Republicans said they’d received threats after voting against him in earlier rounds.
Jordan garnered only 194 votes from House Republicans, down from 200 in his first attempt and 199 in his second vote Wednesday. All of those are well short of the 217 needed to win when all representatives vote.
Several House Republicans have complained that their offices have been inundated with calls from Jordan supporters as part of a pressure campaign on his behalf. Some who have voted against Jordan say they or their families have been subject to outright threats.
The House has been without a speaker since Oct. 3, when eight Republicans joined with House Democrats to oust Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the post.
Since then, Republicans have considered trying to reinstall McCarthy; nominated Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), only to see him withdraw; and put forward Jordan, who appeared undaunted Friday morning at the prospect of calling for votes again and again until he won.
“Look, there’s been multiple rounds of votes for speaker before. We all know that,” he said at a press conference. “I just know that we need to get a speaker as soon as possible so we can get to work for the American people.”