WASHINGTON (AP) – House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, was defeated in the first round of voting to select a new House Speaker, leaving the lower chamber in disarray.
Jordan was nominated for Speaker of the House by House Republicans last week.
However, his hopes of collecting 217 votes - the magic number required to become speaker
Appeared to be fading as 20 of his fellow Republicans voted against him Tuesday afternoon.
While Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-North Carolina, has served as speaker pro tempore since previous Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was expelled earlier this month,
McHenry does not have the same powers as an official leader.
And with Democrats refusing to back their Republican colleagues
Republicans will have to find a way to unite around their next speaker.
Speaking on the Capitol steps, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., claimed Jordan lacked the votes to become speaker "for good reason."