The plaudits are starting to roll in from some unlikely quarters for House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan as the Ohio Republican mounts what has been an uphill climb to be elected speaker.<\/p>\n
Jordan won over two important votes from defense hawks who control the Pentagon\u2019s purse strings \u2014 House Armed Services Chairman Mike D. Rogers, and Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.<\/p>\n
Rogers, R-Ala., who last week said he would not support Jordan, wrote on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, that he and Jordan had \u201ctwo cordial, thoughtful, and productive conversations over the past two days.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rogers said that he and Jordan, R-Ohio, agreed on the need for Congress to pass a \u201cstrong\u201d defense authorization bill, appropriations to \u201cfund our government\u2019s vital functions\u201d and a new multiyear farm bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince I was first elected to the House, I have always been a team player and supported what the majority of the Republican Conference agrees to,\u201d Rogers wrote on X<\/a>. \u201cTogether, our Republican majority will be stronger to fight Joe Biden\u2019s reckless agenda for America.\u201d.<\/p>\n Calvert, who wrote on X Monday that \u201ckeeping America safe is my top priority in Congress,\u201d said he\u2019s now on board.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter having a conversation with Jim Jordan about how we must get the House back on a path to achieve our national security and appropriations goals, I will be supporting him for Speaker on the floor,\u201d Calvert wrote<\/a>. \u201cLet\u2019s get to work.\u201d<\/p>\n While Calvert had not weighed in on Jordan\u2019s bid, he was an early supporter of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise\u2019s bid for the gavel. Calvert\u2019s backing is a positive sign for Jordan among a group of Republicans that is key for him to reach the 217 votes needed to be elected if all members are present and voting<\/p>\n Defense hawks have expressed concerns about Jordan\u2019s spending plans, according to sources familiar with their thinking. Jordan has vowed to \u201cleverage\u201d the 1 percent across-the-board cut that would hit in May if all 12 full-year appropriations bills aren\u2019t enacted by then under the debt limit suspension law.<\/p>\n This tactic has startled supporters of defense spending, who worry that Jordan could allow the 1 percent defense cut to take effect in order to also cut domestic and foreign aid spending.<\/p>\n Jordan has also been critical of extra aid to Ukraine, which remains under attack by Russia, and by extension additional funds to replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles that could bolster the domestic defense industrial base.<\/p>\n Backing for Jordan is starting to come in from others who\u2019ve been his most vocal opponents. Last week, Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., told Politico<\/a> that she would \u201cabsolutely not\u201d vote for Jordan, citing his \u201cdisgraceful, ungracious\u201d speech in conference after he lost the initial internal ballot to Scalise.<\/p>\n On Monday, Wagner posted on X that she\u2019s changed her mind after speaking with Jordan earlier in the day. She wrote that the prospect of a deal with Democrats to elect a speaker was a motivating factor.<\/p>\n \u201cToo much is at stake to hand control of the House over to radical liberal Democrats, which is why we must elect a conservative as the next Speaker,\u201d Wagner wrote<\/a>.<\/p>\n Wagner said Jordan has \u201callayed my concerns about keeping the government open with conservative funding, the need for strong border security, our need for consistent international support in times of war and unrest.\u201d<\/p>\n Jordan followed up the endorsement announcements with a \u201cDear Colleague\u201d letter to all House Republicans.<\/p>\n Jordan wrote that he\u2019s heard their concerns and is ready to include the entire conference on key policy decisions\u2014 including on avoiding a government shutdown when current funding runs out Nov. 17.<\/p>\n \u201cOur goal will be to empower our committees and committee chairs to take the lead on the House\u2019s legislative work through regular order. This will bring us together to pass responsible legislation to fund our government and support our military,\u201d Jordan wrote.<\/p>\n And he said he\u2019s ready to help members get reelected, addressing critics who\u2019ve said he hasn\u2019t done enough to raise money and stump for lawmakers in their districts.<\/p>\n \u201cI will tirelessly work to defend and expand our majority and help every Republican member back at home,\u201d Jordan wrote.<\/p>\n House Republicans are set to meet again on Monday at 6:30 p.m., with a floor vote for speaker tentatively scheduled for noon Tuesday.<\/p>\n The new support expressed Monday could be a sign that Jordan is starting to close the gap towards the 217 votes on the floor needed to be elected speaker, if all members are present and voting.<\/p>\n However, 55 Republicans said in a secret ballot Friday<\/a> that they would not vote for Jordan on the floor, even after he became the speaker-designate in a 124-81 vote over Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., a last-minute entry into the race.<\/p>\n Many Scalise backers are frustrated that Jordan\u2019s supporters tanked Scalise\u2019s bid for speaker, after Scalise earned the nod in a 113-99 vote over Jordan last week. Scalise later dropped out in the face of some Republicans saying they would not support him on the floor. <\/p>\n Some have alleged Jordan and his allies have engaged in hardball tactics to try to secure the votes.<\/p>\n\u2018Too much is at stake\u2019<\/h3>\n
Tuesday vote<\/h3>\n