House Republicans Believe Colleagues Are Voting Against Jordan To ‘Spite Matt Gaetz’
House Republicans Believe Colleagues Are Voting Against Jordan To ‘Spite Matt Gaetz’
A number of Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are reportedly refusing to support Rep. Jim Jordan in his bid to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker
RESIST THE MAINSTREAM
Nicholas Dolinger
OCT 19, 2023
A number of Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives are reportedly refusing to support Rep. Jim Jordan in his bid to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker, not because of personal opposition to Jordan but rather in protest of Matt Gaetz’s efforts to oust the previous speaker.
“I have been told by a good number of people that their objection isn’t personal to Jim, it is that voting in Jordan is perceived to be rewarding Matt Gaetz and the rest of the eight,” Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs said.
Gaetz, known for instigating the motion to vacate the chair vote that led to McCarthy’s removal from the speaker position, faces backlash from several House Republicans. They are critical of his move against McCarthy, seeing it as a deviation from the party’s conventional stance.
The dynamics of the speaker race reflect these internal animosities, with a section of the Republicans supporting Jim Jordan, while others favor a more moderate candidate like the former House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. Scalise, however, withdrew from the race, endorsing Jordan instead.
Republicans who back Jordan see this as a potential victory for Gaetz, as Jordan’s election could be interpreted as vindicating Gaetz in his bold usurpation of McCarthy.
South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace shared her thoughts on the matter, expressing her support for Jordan while criticizing those opposing him.
“The American people want a speaker who will be honest and represent them, not business as usual in Washington. It is disgraceful for a number of elected officials, many of them in safe GOP districts, to oppose Jim Jordan purely to spite Matt Gaetz,” Mace said.
Virginia Republican Rep. Bob Good weighed in on the discord, highlighting the lack of alternative candidates to Jordan.
“Well, I would point out that Jim Jordan is a centrist Republican leader in terms of the conference. … And so Jim Jordan represents the control center and that’s why he’s got 200 votes,” Good told the Caller.
Despite the internal discontent, Gaetz remains steadfast, criticizing the 22 Republicans who voted against Jordan.
“The only people being punished are their constituents. Republican voters across the country are united behind Jim Jordan,” Gaetz said.
Ohio Rep. Warren Davidson also voiced his support for Jordan, emphasizing the broader implications of the election.
“The motion to vacate undoubtedly caused internal pain, yet this is not a reason to block the person who can lead our conference. Electing Jim Jordan as Speaker is not rewarding the eight, it’s a win for the American people and the Republican agenda,” Davidson said.