(NewsNation) — A resolution that would have given temporary House Speaker Patrick McHenry more power is likely not moving forward Thursday, Republican lawmakers said.
GOP Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, who was vying for the permanent position, said they made a pitch to members for the resolution as a way to “lower the temperature and get back to work.”
“We decided that wasn’t where we were going to go,” Jordan said. “I’m still running for speaker, and I plan to go to the floor and get the votes to win this race.”
On Thursday afternoon, a number of House Republicans coming out of a closed conference meeting also said the resolution is a no-go.
Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick said he was prepared to support expanding McHenry’s power but the conference failed at making a plan to do so.
“You know, it’s just the concepts being discussed,” NewsNation partner The Hill quoted Fitzpatrick as saying.
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, of Florida, told reporters that “the resolution is dead,” according to The Hill.
“I think it’s dead. I mean, like I said over there from my colleagues that wanted to support it — I understand why but I just don’t think that it’s gonna happen. We do not have support in our conference for it,” he said.
Rep. David Joyce, R-Ohio, who had said he would introduce the resolution, pushed back on this idea though.
“I didn’t hear it was dead. I think there are some of these folks in there who wish it was dead,” Joyce said according to The Hill. Joyce said he plans to continue working to address members’ concerns and will bring up the resolution “in time.”
Tensions grew high during the Republican conference — former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, ousted as speaker in a historic vote two weeks ago — reportedly scolded Rep. Matt Gaetz. At one point, Illinois Rep. Mike Bost got up and aggressively came at Gaetz, causing some to think an actual altercation would happen.
McCarthy denied yelling at Gaetz — but did admit to telling him to “sit down” when the Florida Republican tried to interrupt him.
“I think the entire conference screamed at him,” McCarthy said. “Listen, the whole country, I think, would scream at Matt Gaetz right now.”
Gaetz was the one who forced the vote to remove McCarthy.
While McCarthy “loses his temper sometimes,” Gaetz told McCarthy it was still a “really productive discussion.
“People got to get their viewpoint out,” Gaetz said.
Discussions on giving interim House Speaker McHenry the authority to manage legislative affairs and conduct floor votes — an unprecedented move — had originally started as the House is without a permanent leader at a critical time for Congress. While lawmakers narrowly averted a shutdown with a temporary funding bill, this expires Nov. 17, and the Biden administration is seeking funds for aid to help Ukraine and Israel as wars in both countries continue to escalate.
Rep. Marc Molinaro, a New York Republican, said short-term empowerment is the most appropriate course of action until there’s consensus around a permanent speaker.
“I don’t like the concept of tying it entirely to the same timetables of the (continuing resolution) but giving us the breathing room to get back to work is most important,” he said.
Others disagree: South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman, a Republican, told reporters he is opposed to the resolution.
“A lot of us feel the same way,” Norman said.
GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene of Georgia said she wanted to see a vote for Jordan happen Thursday, as many initially anticipated would happen, and that a resolution to empower McHenry is the wrong thing to do.
“Republican voters worked too hard to give us the majority for us to enter some sort of temporary speakership,” she said.
McHenry himself said he did not ask for additional powers.
“My duty is to get the next speaker elected,” he said. “That’s my focus.”
There have been two votes for Jordan as speaker so far. Gaetz said there could be a third Thursday. Jordan’s office confirmed there will be no more voting Thursday night and added that the current plan is for lawmakers to hold another round of voting Friday morning.
With 432 members of the House present on Tuesday and Wednesday, Jordan needed 217 votes both days to become speaker. However, 22 Republicans voted against him on Wednesday, giving him 199 votes. He fared better the previous day, with 200 votes.
Most of the GOP holdouts on Jordan cast their ballots for McCarthy or House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. They expressed frustration over McCarthy’s removal and also at Scalise having to withdraw from consideration for the speakership due to his inability to secure enough votes — despite having won a closed-door party vote.
Some Republicans who didn’t vote for Jordan have reportedly received threats, including Iowa Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who said she’s gotten a “barrage” of vicious calls and credible death threats. Authorities have been notified, she said on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.
“One thing I cannot stomach, or support is a bully,” she said. “Someone who threatens another with bodily harm or tries to suppress differing opinions undermines the opportunity for unity and regard for freedom of speech.”
Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska said his wife got anonymous texts and calls after he did not vote for Jordan.
Jordan, also on X, decried these threats, saying, “No American should accost another for their beliefs. “
“We condemn all threats against our colleagues and it is imperative that we come together,” Jordan wrote. “Stop. It’s abhorrent.”
Democrats, meanwhile, backed House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Jeffries was able to receive more votes than Jordan in the first and second vote, with 212 House members voting for him.
First elected in 2006, Jordan, an ally of former president Donald Trump, has few bills to his name from his time in office, according to the Associated Press, which was a point brought up by Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar of California in his nominating speech for Jeffries Wednesday.
He also faces questions about his past — former wrestlers at Ohio State University accused Jordan of knowing about claims they were inappropriately groped by an Ohio State doctor during his time as an assistant wrestling coach. Jordan has said he was never aware of any abuse, with a spokesperson telling ABC News if the representative had “he would have dealt with it.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story is developing. Refresh for updates.