Potential challengers are waiting for Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to drop out of the race for House speaker after he failed to win a majority of votes in consecutive votes in the full House.
Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., a retired Marine Corps general, is “ready” to enter the race if Jordan fails, his spokesman told Fox News Digital. Bergman had supported Jordan as speaker throughout his candidacy.
“After the second round of voting, colleagues reached out to the general and began discussions about a possible candidacy for speaker – it is clear that Rep. Jordan’s path is narrowing by the hour,” the spokesman said.
“We cannot go another day without a speaker. He simply doesn’t have the votes – we need to have an open discussion as a conference about the way forward. If we as a conference see that he cannot get the necessary votes to become Speaker, General Bergman is ready to step up.”
Efforts to empower interim speaker Mchenry gain momentum as momentum falters in Jordan
Rep. Jack Bergman (right), a retired Marine Corps general, is considering entering the speaker’s race if Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (left) proves unable to take the gavel
Bergman is trying to position himself as a stable force at the head of the House of Representatives until the start of the new term in 2025.
“The general is not seeking to climb the ladder, only to consolidate it in a time of chaos — and would only seek to serve as speaker for the remainder of the 118th Congress,” his spokesman said. “Rep. Bergman served our nation for 40 years in the United States Marine Corps – until he retired as a lieutenant general. He knows how to put others first to accomplish the task at hand.”
Meanwhile, a source familiar with the discussions told Fox News Digital that Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington’s name “keeps coming up as an alternative in conversations with holdouts unhappy with Jordan.”
JORDAN LOSES HIS SECOND REPUBLICAN VOTE AS ALMOST TWO DOZEN REPUBLICANS TURN OFF HIM
Arrington, R-Texas, would be an attractive candidate to establishment Republicans because of his experience under former President George W. Bush’s administration, the source said, while his recent budget framework to cut spending could be attractive to conservatives.
Another source familiar with Arrington’s plans said, “We’re really working on getting Jordan to 217 and we’re committed to our conference contender.” Achieving this and getting back to doing the people’s work is what we are fully focused on now.”
Rep. Jodey Arrington leaves the House Republican Conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. (Getty Images)
The first source also mentioned Republican Study Committee Chairman Kevin Hern, R-Okla., as “another alternative waiting in the wings.” Hern had considered running for speaker before dropping out of the race because he feared a three-way contest could split the House GOP.
Other reports have also suggested Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., vice chairman of the House GOP conference, as a possible candidate. A third source involved in the conversations admitted to hearing “whispers” about Johnson.
House Republicans choose Jordan as their speaker candidate, ensuring a vote by the entire House
Representative Mike Johnson speaks during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on July 14, 2022 in Washington, DC. The committee heard testimony about threats to individual freedoms after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade abortion decision. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
A moderate Republican lawmaker even sent into office Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who has emerged this year as a top liaison between the GOP leadership and the far-right House Freedom Caucus.
“Conservatives want Jim Jordan. But Jim Jordan won’t do his job and doesn’t have our support. Chip Roy would be a different story. He is principled,” the lawmaker told Fox News Digital.
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Hern and Johnson’s offices did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday morning.
Jordan won 199 votes in his second attempt at the speaker’s gavel on Wednesday after winning 200 votes the previous day.
His office has indicated he will vote again on Thursday, but it may be the final deciding factor on whether Jordan’s candidacy is still realistic.
Elizabeth Elkind is a reporter for Fox News Digital focusing on Congress and the intersection of artificial intelligence and politics. Previous digital bylines at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to [email protected]
Source : www.foxnews.com