Republicans have to decide
Trump henchman Jordan is set to become congressional speaker
October 14, 2023, 1:30 a.m
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The conservative hardliner Jim Jordan is to become the new speaker of the US House of Representatives. After the more moderate candidate Scalise withdraws, the Trump protégé wins an internal Republican vote. However, he is by no means assured of a majority in Congress.
In their chaotic search for a new leader of the US House of Representatives, the Republicans have now nominated the right-wing hardliner Jim Jordan. The ally of former US President Donald Trump prevailed against his rival Austin Scott in an internal party vote, party representatives announced. However, it is unclear whether the 59-year-old will achieve the necessary majority in the plenary session of the Congress Chamber.
On Wednesday, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee was defeated by Majority Leader Steve Scalise in a group vote for the nomination. But he threw in the towel the next day after it became clear that he would not achieve the 217 votes necessary in the plenary session for election to the top of the Congressional Chamber. Although the Republicans have 221 representatives, dozens of them did not want to support Scalise.
Jordan therefore ran again and defeated the little-known MP Scott in a closed-door vote, according to US media, with a majority of 124 votes to 81. The representative from the state of Ohio wants to succeed his party colleague Kevin McCarthy, who was overthrown last week as the first chairman of the House of Representatives in US history in the wake of a revolt by right-wing hardliners in his own party.
However, moderate Republicans have many reservations about Jordan, who is known for his aggressive political style. For the Democrats, who currently have 212 representatives, it is a red flag anyway.
Jordan stands for strict austerity measures
The dispute among the Republicans has far-reaching consequences: without a chairman, the House of Representatives is largely paralyzed. Among other things, Congress cannot currently decide on any further military aid for Israel, which is attacked by the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas, or Ukraine, which is attacked by Russia. The USA is also threatened with a so-called shutdown in mid-November without a budget solution. Jordan has also emerged as a hardliner on budget policy, advocating for spending cuts and tax cuts.
The representative, who has been in the House of Representatives since 2007, was on the right-wing fringe of the Republicans for a long time. Over the years, however, he increasingly became a central figure in the party, which had moved to the right. Jordan is among those who have pushed forward impeachment proceedings against US President Biden over unsubstantiated allegations of involvement in controversial foreign dealings by his son Hunter Biden. The former wrestler, who likes to appear without a jacket, has also been an ardent supporter and defender of Donald Trump for years. He is one of the founders of the influential right-wing parliamentary group Freedom Caucus and is a welcome guest of right-wing media such as the news channel Fox News. Years ago, Jordan found himself in trouble as a result of an abuse scandal at Ohio State University. As the assistant coach of the wrestling team at the time, he is said to have known about sexual abuse by the team doctor. Jordan has denied the allegations.