BREAKING: Leading Speaker Candidate Says Conference ‘Has Spoken,’ Endorses Jim Jordan

Just hours after House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) secured the Republican conference nomination for Speaker, his leading challenger stated that the “conference has spoken” and urged his supporters to endorse Jordan.

On Friday, the Republican conference once again voted on a nominee for House Speaker after Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) failed to secure the necessary votes for a floor vote. Scalise defeated Jordan by a slim margin of 113-99 earlier this week, but ultimately announced Thursday that he would be dropping out of the race.

Jordan — who had endorsed Scalise prior to his exit — chose to re-enter the race on Friday after a number of Republican members urged him to do so. The longtime Freedom Caucus member then secured the conference nomination on Friday by a vote of 124-81, gaining 25 supporters since the earlier vote.

Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) emerged as the preferred candidate among Jordan dissenters, though Scott immediately urged his supporters to rally behind Jordan in an X post on Friday. “I highly respect Jim Jordan. He is an asset to the Republican Party and our nominee for Speaker,” Scott wrote. “Our conference has spoken, and now we must unite behind Jordan so we can get Congress back to work.”

I highly respect Jim Jordan. He is an asset to the Republican Party and our nominee for Speaker. Our conference has spoken, and now we must unite behind Jordan so we can get Congress back to work.

— Rep. Austin Scott (@AustinScottGA08) October 13, 2023

Lawmakers will return home on Friday without voting for a new leader, according to a report from Punchbowl News. Support for Jordan appears to be growing, however, with numerous lawmakers shifting their votes to his camp.

Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), an ally of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), stated that rallying behind Jordan is the “best chance to stop [President Joe] Biden.” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) also threw his weight behind the Ohio congressman after previously supporting Steve Scalise.

Jordan also received kind words from the former Speaker, as Kevin McCarthy told reporters that Jordan would do an “excellent job” if elected. Despite being nominated by his Freedom Caucus allies in January, Jordan supported McCarthy through all 15 ballots and again supported him on the motion to vacate.