Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) said at a press conference Friday that he is not giving up the fight for House Speaker, despite opposition he faces from some Republicans who hold the position.
Jordan began by recalling a tour he once took of the Wright Brothers’ home, which began with a photo of the first flight in 1903 and ended with a 44-year-old photo of Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier.
“Why did they stop there?” he wondered. “We went from two guys flying thirty feet to putting a man on the moon in one lifetime. It’s a great country, a great country, the greatest country in my opinion, made up of great people, and those people, I think, are starting to question and question their government and where our nation is going.”
Americans, Jordan continued, are concerned about the border crisis, inflation, war in the Middle East and Ukraine, an armed government and crime.
“I think the American people are hungry for change, I think they’re hungry for leadership and, frankly, they know the White House can’t deliver, they know the Senate won’t lead, and they’re looking for Republicans in the House of Representatives to step up, lead and make changes on these essential issues,” he said.
“We must speed up the appropriations process so that key elements of our government are funded properly, especially our military. We need to get back to work on our committee. And frankly, we need to continue our oversight work, which I think is incredibly important,” the Ohio Republican continued.
“We must get to work for the American people. We have to do what we said we would do. We have to do what we told them when they elected us and put us in office, and frankly, we can’t do it if the House isn’t open. We can’t open the House until we find a speaker,” Jordan added.
🚨 BREAKING: Jim Jordan holds pre-vote press conference on the third floor for House Speaker.
“The quickest way to make this all work is to choose an announcer. I hope that’s what we can do today.” pic.twitter.com/xXjEdbGlx5
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 20, 2023
The third speaker’s vote, which is expected on Friday after the House reconvenes at 5 p.m. 10.00, will come after he lost 22 GOP votes in the second round and 20 Republican votes in the first round.
