Jim Jordan, candidate to run the House of Representatives

2023-10-14 08:40:15, Kosova & Bota CNA

Republican lawmakers voted Friday to pick Jim Jordan as their new House Speaker, a close ally of Republican Donald Trump, who is seeking to retake the presidency in 2024.

The election of Mr. Jordan, one of the founders of the Freedom Caucus, would put the conservative hardliner in a central leadership position in the country.

A number of high-profile supporters, including Fox News commentator Sean Hannity, publicly pressured lawmakers to back Mr. Jordan to take over the House leadership following the ouster of Republican Kevin McCarthy.

The speaker of the US House of Representatives is removed
October 4, 07:33

Ohio lawmaker Jim Jordan will try to unite the divided Republicans who control the House of Representatives before a general vote, which could be postponed until next week. Republicans voted 124-81 to nominate lawmaker Jordan to the top post in the US Congress.

"I think Jordan is going to do a great job," Mr McCarthy said before the vote. "We must continue on the right path."

The battle has been fierce among House Republicans to pick a party leader after the unprecedented dismissal of Mr. McCarthy by a small number of hard-line lawmakers.

The stalemate between the factions, now in its second week, has plunged the House of Representatives into chaos, halting all actions of the legislative body.

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Attention has focused on Mr. Jordan, chairman of the Judiciary Committee and founder of the Freedom Caucus, a group of hardline lawmakers, after Majority Leader Steve Scalise dropped his candidacy when it became clear that some lawmakers would reject to support his appointment. But not all Republicans support Mr. Jordan's candidacy to lead the House of Representatives.

Mr. Jordan is known for his close alliance with Mr. Trump, especially when the then-president was trying to overturn the outcome of the 2020 election, which was followed by the January 6, 2021 riots in the US Congress.

The House of Representatives is entering its second week without a speaker and is essentially unable to function. Meanwhile, the political pressure is increasing on the Republicans to change course and restore majority control and ensure the normal functioning of the Chamber.

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October 13, 08:39

One of the reasons is related to the budget to finance the government, which if it does not happen, it risks shutting down within a month.

Lawmakers also want Congress to make a strong statement of support for Israel in its fight against Hamas, but a bipartisan resolution has been sidelined because of the impasse in the House of Representatives.

Likewise, the White House is expected to soon request funding for Israel, Ukraine and replenishing the US arms stockpile.

Democrats have backed their leader, Hakeem Jeffries, during other House Speaker elections and are expected to do the same this time.

An adviser to Democratic leaders, who spoke on the condition that his name not be made public, said that Democrats are ready to support a compromise candidate between the two parties, but according to them, Republicans have not contacted them on this issue./ VOA