In a notable display of division and uncertainty, the House of Representatives held a second vote for the position of Speaker on Tuesday. This vote was a mirror image of the first vote conducted on Monday, with a disappointing outcome of not having enough votes for any one nominee to secure the position.
In the second vote, Representative Tom Cole nominated Jim Jordan as the Speaker candidate, while Representative Pete Aguilar nominated House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Despite being the majority party, the Republicans seemed to be divided, while Jeffries retained the full support of his Democratic caucus.
A handful of Republican representatives, including Don Bacon, Lori Chavez-Deremer, Carlos Gimenez, Jen Kiggans, and Mike Lawler, voted for Kevin McCarthy. Others, like Mario Díaz-Balart, Drew Ferguson, Tony Gonzalez, Kay Granger, John Henry Rutherford, Michael Simpson, and Steve Womak, cast their votes for Steve Scalise. A few representatives, such as Anthony D’Esposito, Andrew Garbarino, and Nick LaLota, also voted for Steve Scalise.
In the first vote on Monday, 200 House Republicans supported Jim Jordan, but it fell short of the 217 votes required for election. In contrast, all 212 Democrats voted for Hakeem Jeffries. Notably, 20 GOP members voted for different candidates during the first vote, indicating a significant degree of internal division within the Republican Party.
This unprecedented situation reflects the current turbulence and lack of consensus within the House of Representatives, emphasizing the challenges and disagreements faced by members from both sides of the aisle. It remains to be seen how this internal division will impact future legislative efforts and party dynamics in the House.