Update (9:11 a.m. on Oct. 17)
Some Indiana lawmakers have sent out updated statements surrounding the potential vote for the Speaker of the House on Tuesday.
In a statement sent out late Monday, U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind. District 5 said:
“Since politics is complicated with many things happening behind the scenes, I owe my constituents and all Americans an explanation of my position on the current situation with the speaker’s race.
I dedicated most of my adult life to Republican politics, since my kids were in strollers, and probably more energy to it than to family and businesses. Therefore, I care dearly for my party to lead and succeed for the American people against a very powerful and oppressive Democrat machine.
I did vote for Kevin McCarthy, reluctantly, in January after moving to “present” to express my dissatisfaction when he tried to intimidate conservatives on the floor into voting for him. I also reluctantly decided not to vacate him regardless of how I felt about his policy failures. I did not support Steve Scalise in conference, but publicly said I would support him on the first vote if goes to the floor. I also asked Steve not to act tyrannically as Kevin did if he cannot get the vote in conference, which he graciously did.
I voted to support Jim Jordan in conference, but what happened Friday night is not acceptable. After undermining Steve and appearing to make some kind of a deal with Jim, Kevin forced the conference to adjourn and announced that Jim Jordan was going to be our speaker next week. Unfortunately, Jim did not object to Kevin, as also on a few other occasions as the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
I hate to remind Kevin, but we fought a war not to have kings with successors. I am willing to give Jim another chance and assess his wisdom of governing to allow conference, not floor, deliberation on his nomination to proceed tomorrow as he promised during the conference debate.
I would also like to remind Jim that Republicans are not sheep and will refuse to support him if he will try to use the same McCarthy intimidation techniques on members on the floor, even if I have to run again, so McCarthy and his friends have a chance to primary me.”
Spartz
U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym, R-Ind. District 2 also released a statement on his intentions for Tuesday’s vote, stating he would vote for Jordan on social media.
“Today I’ll be voting for Jim Jordan for our next House Speaker,” Yakym said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “We need to get back to work on finishing our appropriations bills, securing the border, supporting Israel, and lowering inflation. Jim is the man to unite our Conference and advance our conservative vision.”
Original Story:
INDIANAPOLIS — As the United States House of Representatives continues to be without a Speaker of the House, Republicans are reportedly pushing to host a vote for their nominee for the position as soon as Tuesday.
According to reports from The Hill on Monday, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio was named the Republican nominee for Speaker of the House on Friday in a 124-81 vote against U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga. However, officials said that when the Republican conference was asked if they would support Jordan on the floor, the vote was reported as 152-55.
According to previous reports, a candidate is required to have 217 votes to win the position on the House floor. This comes after it took days and numerous votes for the prior Speaker of the House, U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy R-Calif., to be put into the position in January.
After nearly 10 months in the position, a group of hard-right Republicans joined House Democrats to oust McCarthy, causing the Speaker of the House position to be vacant for the first time in history. This is how Indiana lawmakers voted at that time:
| James Baird | Republican | Nay |
| Jim Banks | Republican | Nay |
| Larry Bucshon | Republican | Nay |
| Erin Houchin | Republican | Nay |
| Greg Pence | Republican | Nay |
| Victoria Spartz | Republican | Nay |
| Rudy Yakym III | Republican | Nay |
| Andre Carson | Democrat | Yea |
| Frank Mrvan | Democrat | Yea |
The House of Representatives is planning to vote on Tuesday on the new Speaker of the House. Before that expected vote, some Indiana lawmakers have expressed opinions on the upcoming vote.
Jim Banks, R-Ind. District 3, has expressed support for Jordan multiple times, saying on Thursday that he is “committed to doing everything (he) can to help elect (Jordan) as the next Speaker of the House.”
“He is a conservative fighter and a leader who can unite our party,” Banks said on Thursday. “Republicans have a lot of work to do and if Jim Jordan is in the Speaker’s chair, we will get it done.”
In an updated statement provided to FOX59/CBS4 on Monday, Banks said:
I look forward to voting for Jim Jordan to be Speaker on the House Floor tomorrow. With Jim as Speaker, House Republicans will hold the Biden administration accountable, fight to secure the border, and always put America First. He is a strong conservative leader and has my full support.
Jim Banks
U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind. District 9 and U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-Ind. District 8 also expressed their respective support for Jordan as the Speaker of the House. In his statement, Bucshon stressed the importance of House Republicans working together.
“All House Republicans need to come together as a team and vote for Jim on the House floor. We need a GOP Speaker of the House ASAP,” Bucshon said in a post on social media on Sunday afternoon.
On Friday, U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind. District 5 said in a statement that she initially supported Jordan, but is currently undecided. When FOX59/CBS4 reached out to Spartz’s office on Monday, the office referred us to this statement.
(Jordan) is a great American with strong conservative values, but I am not sure if he truly is the independent thinker and visionary leader we need to deliver for the American people. After witnessing all of the behind-the-scenes politics, backstabbing, undermining, top-down attitude and statements made by former Speaker McCarthy and his allies in conference today, I will have to assess on Monday if Jim is the right person who will be held accountable to the same standard as Kevin was, or just another puppet for the swamp with a better bio. I am also very disappointed that we were sent home without reconciling this issue.
Spartz
In two social media posts last week, U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind. District 7, said that the U.S. House of Representatives is not able to perform its basic duties without a Speaker of the House. Carson stressed that he will “keep working to find common ground.”
“Another day without a Speaker. Another day closer to a government shutdown. Another day delaying our efforts to deliver for the American people,” Carson said on Wednesday. “Once again, I urge my colleagues to put politics aside so Congress can get back to work.”
FOX59/CBS4 has reached out to each Indiana member of the U.S. House of Representatives regarding their thoughts on Tuesday’s expected Speaker of the House vote. This story will be updated if they return the request for comment.
