New York [US], October 15: House Republicans on Friday elected Rep. Jim Jordan (Ohio) as their new speaker-designate, yet he faces the same daunting mathematical conundrum that bedeviled the brief attempt of Majority Leader Steve Scalise (La.) to claim the gavel.
In an hours-long closed-door session Friday, GOP lawmakers -- many of them visibly frustrated after a week of infighting -- heard pitches from Jordan and Rep. Austin Scott (Ga.), who launched a last-minute bid for the speakership Friday morning.
Jordan -- who narrowly lost to Scalise in a GOP vote earlier before the Louisiana Republican withdrew from the race a day later -- emerged this time as the conference's nominee with 124 votes, while Scott received 81 votes. Jordan's vote tally was marginally higher than Scalise's 113 count, suggesting he has much work ahead of him in getting to the 217 votes required to get elected by the full chamber. Jordan's nomination was less a celebratory breakthrough and more of an unsteady mile marker for a Republican conference that has been plunged into chaos. (Agencies)
Source: Qatar Tribune