House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, lost a third ballot for the speaker’s gavel on Friday as his critics’ numbers continued to build, even after an impassioned plea from the man who was ousted from the job earlier this month and retains support from the vast majority of the conference.
Jordan earlier vowed to continue his bid for speaker in a Friday morning press conference, despite GOP opposition to his candidacy running into the double digits with no sign of relenting.
Jordan lost 22 GOP votes on a second ballot Wednesday, a figure that grew by two over the previous day’s vote. On Friday, that number hit 25, despite a nominating speech from the former speaker, Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
