Same player, shoot again ! Elected Jim Jordan, Donald Trump’s lieutenant, failed again on Wednesday to be elected Speaker in the American Congress, pushing the institution further into crisis. The House of Representatives, without a president since the surprise impeachment of Kevin McCarthy after a revolt by ultraconservative elected officials 15 days ago, is currently paralyzed, unable to pass any law or even the envelope requested by Joe Biden for Ukraine and Israel.
On Wednesday, Jim Jordan was defeated by 22 Republicans in the second round of voting, compared to 21 the day before. These moderate elected officials criticize the Ohio representative for positions that are too extreme, particularly on the budget, and for having propagated Donald Trump’s lies during the 2020 election.
Jordan recorded four new defections on Wednesday compared to only two new rallies (and one elected official absent on Tuesday voted for him). In a sign of tensions within the conservative party, Representative Kay Granger, who voted for Steve Scalise – who was chosen as candidate before Jordan last week before throwing in the towel in the face of divisions – denounced “threats and intimidation “.
Patrick McHenry, permanent temporary Speaker?
What happens next remains uncertain. Negotiations continue, and Jim Jordan could try to convince a handful of elected officials then ask for a third round, to show that he can reverse the trend, even if it means fighting for 15 rounds like McCarthy last January. Unless he decides to withdraw.
How will the conservatives get out of this crisis? Several scenarios are being studied by the parliamentary group. Starting with the possibility of temporarily strengthening the powers of the interim Speaker, Patrick McHenry. The sole responsibility of this North Carolina elected official – recognizable by the bow tie he always wears with his suits – is currently to organize the election of Kevin McCarthy’s successor. McHenry is a more consensual Republican, who notably led negotiations with the White House to avoid a debt default.
An alliance of moderate Republicans with Democrats could make it possible to confirm him as temporary Speaker, with powers close to those of Speaker. Urging Republicans to end “their civil war,” Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called for forming “a coalition that transcends party lines.”