Rep. Jim Jordan's (R-OH) bid for the speakership is facing significant challenges as he suffered a third defeat on Friday, with an even wider margin than the previous two ballots..
Despite this setback, Jordan's allies are not giving up and are now resorting to desperate measures to salvage his campaign. According to The Wall Street Journal, they are proposing a secret ballot within the conference to assess his true support among members. The hope is that this will demonstrate to Jordan's adversaries within the party that they represent only a small minority.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), a staunch ally of Jordan, emphasized the importance of the conference's collective will in the decision-making process. He stated, "If he is still the designee, we come back and vote and thats the will of the conference. Its not one person dragging everybody through this."
Another unconventional plan is being advocated by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), one of the eight Republicans who voted earlier this month to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker. Mace took to Twitter, sharing a letter in which she and the other eight Republicans expressed their willingness to accept "censure, suspension, or removal from the conference" if it meant Jordan would become the speaker.
However, there appears to be a discrepancy with Mace's letter. Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), who also voted against McCarthy and has refrained from endorsing Jordan, informed conservative journalist Michael Warren that he did not sign the letter, despite his name being listed.
The future of Jordan's bid for the speakership remains uncertain as his allies scramble to find alternative strategies to secure his position. The upcoming secret ballot and the controversy surrounding Mace's letter add further intrigue to an already tense situation within the Republican Party.
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