Jeffries predicts bipartisan speaker talks ‘can accelerate’ after Jordan stalls

House Democratic leaders are predicting that bipartisan talks to find a unity speaker candidate will “accelerate” on Tuesday evening, just hours after Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) failed to garner enough support among his GOP colleagues to secure the speaker’s gavel.

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) reiterated his calls to centrist Republicans to drop their support for Jordan and instead work with Democrats to advance a candidate that could win the support of both parties. The New York Democrat did not name a specific candidate his party members would back but said there are several Republicans whom Democrats respect as a viable candidate, including Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC).

JORDAN HOLDOUTS FLOAT NEW POWERS FOR HOUSE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE IN INTERIM

“Our focus right now relates not just to any one individual but to getting the institution reopened,” Jeffries told reporters on Tuesday. “I have respect for Patrick McHenry. I think he is respected on our side of the aisle. There are a whole host of other Republicans who are respected on our side of the aisle. Jim Jordan is not one of them.”

Although Jeffries declined to say whether Democrats would back McHenry, several Republicans who voted against Jordan have voiced their support to give the acting speaker more power to advance legislation until the House can agree on who to elect as speaker.

Mark Schiefelbein/AP

“Until we can find clear consensus among the Republican Conference, it’s time to give expanded authority to Speaker Pro Tempore McHenry so the House can resume governing,” Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), who opposes Jordan’s speakership, said in a statement. “In the meantime, I’m supporting Kevin McCarthy because he’s the only member who’s received anywhere close to the 217 votes needed to select a speaker. I’ll continue to reassess where things stand as this process plays out.”

Jordan failed to win the speakership during the first round of votes after 20 Republicans chose not to vote for him, putting him well below the 217-vote margin needed to win the majority on the floor. The Ohio Republican met with several of those holdouts throughout the day, later announcing he would delay a second round of votes until Wednesday morning in an effort to shore up enough support.

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However, several Jordan holdouts have called on House leaders to “return immediately” for votes, indicating they are unwilling to budge on their stance. Some members have even suggested there will be more votes against Jordan when the House reconvenes, prompting Democrats to urge their GOP colleagues to consider other options.

“Informal conversations have accelerated over the last few days,” Jeffries said. “My hope, now that it’s clear Jim Jordan lacks the votes to be speaker, [is] that those conversations will accelerate this evening.”