Opinions among the political-observer class vary greatly as to whether Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, House Republicans' latest pick for the speakership, can actually claim the gavel. What appears clear, however, is that this weekend will be decisive as Jordan, a former wrestling coach turned bullheaded far-right firebrand and Donald Trump loyalist, hopes to convince or persuade his intra-party opponents that he is literally the last man standing who can return the slender GOP majority to some semblance of functionality.
Jordan emerged from an internal vote of House Republicans on Friday only slightly better off than Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana did a few days earlier. Scalise had also won a majority of GOP members in a caucus vote, but withdrew on Thursday after it became clear he was never going to get the 217 votes required to be elected speaker on the House floor. Jordan won the speakership nomination with a reported 124 votes, which was 11 more than Scalise received earlier last week, but he still needs to convince nearly every Republican who voted against him to ride along in a showdown before the full House. With two seats currently vacant in the 435-seat House — one reasonably safe seat from each party — Jordan can only afford to lose four votes from the 221 Republican members.
