House Republicans in a closed meeting Friday afternoon voted to end Rep. Jim Jordan’s speaker run hours after he lost a third ballot for the post on the House floor.
The vote, which sources said was 86-112 against the pick the conference made just a week earlier, opened the floodgates for new candidates. Reps. Kevin Hern, R-Okla.; Byron Donalds, R-Fla.; Jack Bergman, R-Mich.; Austin Scott, R-Ga.; and Pete Sessions, R-Texas, were among immediate entrants. Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn.; House Budget Chairman Jodey C. Arrington, R-Texas; Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa.; and Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., were among those exploring a run.
Jordan said he would support the party’s next pick.
