Jim Jordan, a representative aiming for the role of House Speaker, encountered another setback as opposition continued to mount. A total of twenty-two House Republicans voted against the Ohio Republican, marking an increase in resistance compared to the previous day and casting doubt on his future within the chamber.

Once known as a prominent conservative voice, Jordan had recently aligned himself with the Republican leadership. On Monday, he managed to secure significant endorsements from lawmakers who had previously opposed his bid for Speaker. These endorsements followed a weekend campaign by Jordan's allies, who warned lawmakers of potential primary challenges if they didn't support him. Despite these efforts, they were insufficient to ensure his victory.

Another challenge for Jordan was the commitment made by lawmakers to support him in the initial round as a gesture of goodwill toward the party's Speaker nominee, with no guarantee of support beyond that. On Wednesday, four more Republicans opposed Jordan, while he was only able to regain the support of two and secure an additional vote from a previously absent Republican.

Rep. Scott Perry, an ally of Jordan, warned before the Wednesday vote that Jordan might have fewer votes in the second ballot, but he encouraged Jordan to persevere. Perry emphasized that Jordan's fight aimed to disrupt the existing order and wouldn't be easy.

Rep. Tom Cole from Oklahoma nominated Jordan before the Wednesday vote, stating that it should be a straightforward decision for Republicans.

However, on Wednesday, some House Republicans grew impatient and discussed a novel proposal that gained traction. This proposal aimed to empower the Speaker pro tempore due to their inability to elect a leader. A group of Republicans considered a motion to empower Rep. Patrick McHenry, the designated Speaker pro tempore following the removal of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The motion would allow McHenry, who had primarily overseen the Speaker election, to temporarily lead the chamber and focus on legislative matters. Some House conservatives opposed this move, seeing it as a form of "coalition" government that might garner support from Democrats.

Following the vote, McHenry declared the House in recess, and Republicans were expected to hold a closed-door meeting to determine their next steps.