Combative right-wing Republican Jim Jordan appeared to be falling short in his bid to serve as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, one of the most powerful posts in Washington, as voting continued on Tuesday.

With voting underway, at least nine Republicans had cast ballots against his bid, likely leaving him short of the 217 votes he would need to win the job. More rounds of voting are expected if he does not prevail on the first vote.

If he prevails, the Ohio lawmaker who has spent years fighting with leaders of his own party could end up in a position that puts him second in line for the presidency.

Republicans who control the chamber nominated Jordan as a replacement for Kevin McCarthy was ousted as speaker by a small group of his fellow Republicans on Oct. 3.

“He is a patriot, an America First warrior who wins the toughest of fights,” Republican Representative Elise Stefanik said as she nominated Jordan for speaker on the House floor.

  • @Fredselfish
    6•9 months ago

    Then he lost and the other guy is speaker why is there even going be more voting.

    • Montagge
      20•9 months ago

      Majority is 217 votes and nobody got that many. Jefferies was closest at 212.

      • @[email protected]
        15•9 months ago

        How much to buy 5 republican votes? Can we crowd fund it? It would be hilarious if Jeffries won.

        • Rhaedas
          3•9 months ago

          If, and a big if that happened, the rule that one vote to remove a Speaker is still there, and the GOP would waste not even a minute invoking it. Mainly because it would probably be undone soon after a Democrat gets the position.

      • @NewNewAccount
        4•9 months ago

        That doesn’t really represent what happened though.