A top Republican congressman who opposed House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan’s campaign to become the speaker of the House of Representatives has said that he will now vote for Jordan on the floor, according to a post on X.
Republican Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama initially told reporters on Friday that there was nothing that Jordan could do to win his support, The Anniston Star reported. Rogers announced on Monday that he would support Jordan after speaking with him about several policy areas, according to a post on X, formerly Twitter. (RELATED: Jim Jordan Wins GOP Nomination For Speaker Of The House)
“We agreed on the need for Congress to pass a strong [National Defense Authorization Act], appropriations to fund our government’s vital functions and other important legislation like the Farm Bill,” Rogers wrote. “As a result, I have decided to support Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House on the floor.”
.@Jim_Jordan and I have had two cordial, thoughtful, and productive conversations over the past two days. We agreed on the need for Congress to pass a strong NDAA, appropriations to fund our government’s vital functions, and other important legislation like the Farm Bill. (1/3)
— Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) October 16, 2023
Rogers had previously indicated that he would be willing to work with the House Democrats to obtain the necessary votes for another candidate, according to AL.com.
“They put us in this ditch along with eight traitors. We’re still the majority party, we’re willing to work with them but they gotta tell us what they need,” Rogers said, a position that was strongly criticized by Republican members of Congress.
Jordan won the Republican nomination for Speaker of the House on Friday, though he lacks the support of 217 members, whose votes in his favor are necessary to be elected to the position. In a separate vote on Friday, 152 members indicated that they would support him in the House’s general election of a speaker, with 55 members indicating they’d oppose him while several members were absent.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise withdrew from the race on Thursday, despite winning the Republican Conference’s nomination for the speakership the day before. Republican Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia declared his candidacy for speaker on Friday prior to the Conference’s nomination vote and received 81 votes.
Following Rogers’ announcement, another Republican member of his committee, Rep. Ken Calvert of California, announced that he would vote for Jordan as the next speaker.
Jordan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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