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Jim Jordan, the hardline Republican congressman from Ohio, was poised to lose a third vote to be Speaker of the House of Representatives on Friday, paralysing the lower chamber and raising doubts about Congress’s ability to approve more aid for Israel and Ukraine.
Jordan, a close ally of Donald Trump, appeared set to be defeated again by a large margin, as several members of his own party sided with House Democrats to deliver what would be another crushing blow to his bid for the speakership.
Republicans control the House by a small majority, meaning Jordan could only afford to lose a handful of votes from his own party to avoid defeat. It was not immediately clear whether the congressman would abandon his bid given the scale of his latest defeat, or press ahead with a fourth floor vote.
Republican opponents have criticised Jordan for failing to recognise the 2020 election results but also balked at the heavy-handed pressure campaign he launched to gain their support. Some received threats to their personal safety and that of their family members from rightwing activists after opposing his bid.
The pivotal House Speaker role has been vacant since early this month when Kevin McCarthy was ousted by a group of eight firebrand conservatives.
Despite McCarthy’s humiliation by fellow Republicans earlier this year, the former Speaker delivered the speech nominating Jordan for the role.
The political vacuum comes as Biden has asked Congress for $106bn dollars of new funding to help Israel and Ukraine — as well as border security and humanitarian assistance. But in the absence of a Speaker, no legislation can move through the House, which will prevent it from being approved.
Patrick McHenry, a Republican representative from North Carolina and chair of the House financial services committee, is serving as temporary Speaker, but without the power to put any bills on the floor. A push by some Republicans to give him additional powers for a few months in order to advance legislation while the party sought a consensus candidate for Speaker failed earlier this week, adding more uncertainty to the US political scene.
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