Rep. Jim Jordan launched a fresh bid on Friday to become the next speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, as analysts warned that the process of finding a replacement for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was preventing the Republican-run chamber from addressing crucial matters.
Jordan, an Ohio Republican who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, said “yup” when he was asked if he’s running again for speaker after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, ended his bid late Thursday.
House Republicans met on Friday morning to address filling the speakership and were gathering again in the afternoon. GOP Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia is also seeking to become the speaker.
Rep. Austin Scott, a Georgia Republican, also spoke to reporters about the House speaker position on Friday.
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Scott, who has been in office since 2011, said in a post on X that he wants to “lead a House that functions in the best interest of the American people.”
To become speaker, a lawmaker must take part in a forum for candidates and earn the support of a majority of House Republicans, then prevail in a vote on the House floor.
See: House speaker election — how it works
When asked if a speaker would be selected on Friday or whether deliberations would last into the weekend, Jordan said he wasn’t certain.
“I’m not sure, but we need to be unified and get to the floor, and we want that to happen as soon as possible,” he told Cleveland.com.
Scalise’s decision to drop his bid “delays the resumption of meaningful legislative
business at least well into next week,” Benjamin Salisbury, director of research at Height Capital Markets, said in a note on Friday.
A similar warning came from Greg Valliere, chief U.S. policy strategist at AGF Investments. The House has had a temporary speaker — GOP Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina — since Oct. 3, when McCarthy was ousted in a historic vote.
“This paralysis in the House is becoming a serious issue, as major legislation has stalled,” Valliere said in a note. “A government shutdown can’t be ruled out as the next deadline approaches on Nov. 17. More aid to Israel and Ukraine is widely supported in both parties and in both houses, but can this funding overcome procedural hurdles in the House?”
Related: Kevin McCarthy’s ouster means chance of government shutdown next month ‘just went up to 80%,’ analyst says
One betting market, Smarkets, was giving Jordan, a co-founder of the hard-line House Freedom Caucus, a 42% chance of becoming speaker. The Ohio congressman “faces difficult math,” as at least five Republican lawmakers are expected to vote against him on the House floor, and their ranks “may balloon by the time a floor vote is called,” Height’s Salisbury said.
Besides Jordan or Scott, other options that have gotten attention include giving more power to McHenry, the temporary speaker, or making a bipartisan deal on a speaker.
U.S. stocks
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were trading mostly lower Friday, with the selling blamed in part on the Israel-Hamas war.
Now read: What U.S. political dysfunction means for the stock market and investors
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