House of Representatives Holds Inconclusive Vote for New Speaker, Reflecting Deep Divisions Among Republicans

The House of Representatives held a roll call vote Tuesday to elect a new speaker of the House, and the results were inconclusive. Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries, of New York, received 212 votes, while Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, of Ohio, received 200 votes. Six Republicans voted for former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, seven voted for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and three voted for former Rep. Lee Zeldin, of New York.

Jordan failed to secure a majority in the first round, as he needed 217 votes to win on the House floor. Twenty Republicans voted for someone other than Jordan, indicating the deep divisions among Republicans after the House was thrown into paralysis two weeks ago when a band of eight conservative rebels voted to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker.

The House will now move to a second ballot, where the Republican Party will have to decide whether to rally around Jordan or to back one of the other candidates. It is unclear whether Jordan will be able to secure the majority of votes needed to win the speaker position.

The vote is a reflection of the ongoing tensions between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party, and it is uncertain how the House will move forward in the coming weeks. It is clear, however, that the House will have to come to a consensus in order to elect a new speaker and move past the current political impasse.