Jordan is calling members to ask for their support, sources tell ABC News.
ByRachel Scott, Mariam Khan, and Benjamin Siegel 
Friday, October 13, 2023 8:27PM
House Republicans voted Friday to nominate conservative firebrand Jim Jordan for speaker of the House — the latest twist in a chaotic battle for speakership.
Jordan, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, received 124 votes — still more than 90 votes shy of the 217 he will need to grab the gavel in a vote on the House floor, according to members and aides who were the room. That floor vote has not yet been scheduled.
“I think I can bring our team together,” Jordan said to ABC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott as he walked into the candidate forum Friday afternoon.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio talks with reporters as House Republicans meet behind closed doors to elect a new speaker at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Jordan had an opponent in the conference vote for speaker: Rep. Austin Scott, who filed to run for the top spot shortly before the vote went down. Scott received 81 votes in the candidate forum.
Jordan had earlier backed out of the speaker race, saying he would cast a vote for Rep. Steve Scalise after the majority leader earned the nomination is a similar closed-door session Wednesday. Scalise backed out Thursday night after he failed to secure the votes needed to become speaker.
FILE – Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, left, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, right, and have entered the race to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House.
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
It has been a disorderly speaker contest that began after the historic ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy just over a week ago.
McCarthy said he now backs Jordan for the position. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Jordan early in the race for speaker, which could work both for and against his chances.
ABC News’ John Parkinson, Jay O’Brien and Sarah Beth Hensley contributed to this report
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