The GOP’s nominee for speaker of the House, Congressman Jim Jordan, failed to win the gavel in the first round of voting due to a number of defections among his fellow Republicans and a united front from the Democratic caucus. The Ohio firebrand has vowed to fight on the House floor until he wins the post. 

Mr. Jordan lost by a vote of 200-232. He lost 20 members of the GOP, more than had been expected in the run-up to the vote. In total, six voted for the former speaker, Congressman Kevin McCarthy, and seven voted for the majority leader, Congressman Steve Scalise, who was nominated for speaker last week but withdrew for want of enough support. Three voted for a former congressman, Lee Zeldin, and receiving one vote each were Congressman Tom Emmer, Congressman Tom Cole, Congressman Mike Garcia, and Congressman Thomas Massie. The minority leader, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, won all 212 Democratic votes.