(The Center Square) – Two of the seven Republicans representing North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives have signaled intent to back Rep. Jim Jordan as the next speaker.
Publicly, the other five and all seven Democrats are not outwardly sharing intentions. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., is speaker pro tempore and is leading the chamber toward a vote on Wednesday. He ignored questions from the media on Monday about the possibility of the position full-time.
In the voting on former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., the seven North Carolina Republicans voted to keep him and the seven Democrats voted for his ouster.
Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., and Jordan, R-Ohio, are the front-runners to be elected speaker. McCarthy first said he would not seek a return, but has since softened that stance. Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern, head of the House Republican Study Committee, has emerged as a candidate.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., is expected to attract votes of Democrats. Republicans have a 221-212 majority; there are two vacancies. Republicans need 217 votes to elect a speaker without help from Democrats.
“I’m for @JimJordan for Speaker,” Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., recently posted to X, the site formally known as Twitter.
“I know this for certain: Jim is for the country over Washington. He knows the hour is late, and the dangers are real and imminent,” Bishop wrote. “In a town that tends to tarnish and corrupt everything in sight, Jim Jordan’s core is solid and genuine.”
Jordan is chairman of the Judiciary Committee, a strong critic of McCarthy, and backed by former President Donald Trump. Scalise is the House majority leader and has support from several high-ranking GOP members.
McCarthy signaled his willingness to return as speaker during a press conference Monday focused on the war between Israel and Hamas.
Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., chairwoman of the House Education Committee, is the only other Republican in the state’s delegation to signal her intent, backing Jordan on Friday.
“Chairman @Jim_Jordan, you have my vote to become our next Speaker of the House,” she posted to X. “You have the influence, determination, and experience necessary to work with our excellent existing leadership team and lead this conference forward.
“Let’s get our House back on track and continue delivering wins for the American People.”
Rep. Richard Hudson, a Republican representing North Carolina’s 9th congressional district, wrote in a newsletter to constituents on Monday he’s working to “find a way forward by electing a new Republican speaker,” but did not offer support for a specific member.
“My focus remains on cutting spending, securing our Southern border, and working on behalf of you and your family,” he wrote.
Likewise, Republican Rep. Greg Murphy, in North Carolina’s 3rd district, has highlighted the importance of filling the speaker’s chair to “lead us in our efforts to reduce the unsustainable growth of our national debt, secure the border, hold the Biden administration accountable, protect our freedoms, and destroy the woke agenda” in his constituent newsletter, but hasn’t offered a name for the right person to do that.
