Trump-backed Jim Jordan chosen as Speaker nominee

BBC News:

Conservative firebrand Jim Jordan has been chosen as Republican nominee to become Speaker of the House.

The Ohio congressman won 124 votes from party members in the secret ballot held on Friday afternoon, with 81 against.

But Mr Jordan, who has the backing of former president Donald Trump, is already facing mounting opposition from the ranks of his own party.

The week ends with Republicans no closer to successfully installing a Speaker amid continued infighting.

The House has now gone 10 days without a Speaker. Until a new candidate is chosen it will be unable to pass any bills, approve White House requests for emergency aid or pass short-term spending bills.

While Mr Jordan emerged victorious from Friday’s secret ballot against Georgia lawmaker Austin Scott, he quickly failed to consolidate support in the wider party.

Immediately following the vote, Republican representatives held a second motion to determine whether members would support Mr Jordan in a floor vote, before breaking up for the weekend.

The second vote saw 55 members vote “no” on Mr Jordan. As things stand, Mr Jordan has no clear path to the Speaker’s office, leaving House Republicans leaderless and wracked by uncertainty.

Several supporters of Steve Scalise – who was nominated as the party’s candidate for Speaker on Wednesday before withdrawing – have vowed to oppose Mr Jordan at all costs.

Mr Jordan only narrowly expanded the fragile margin Mr Scalise earned on Wednesday of 113 votes to 99.