what republicans voted against jim jordan
Here’s a clear rundown of which Republicans voted against Jim Jordan for Speaker and how that opposition grew over time in October 2023.
Quick Scoop
Jim Jordan, a hard-right Republican from Ohio, tried and failed multiple times in October 2023 to become Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Across three floor votes, a shifting but overlapping group of Republicans refused to back him, starting with 20 GOP “no” votes on the first ballot, 22 on the second, and 25 on the third.
First Speaker Ballot: The Initial 20 “No” Votes
On the first ballot (October 17, 2023), 20 House Republicans voted against Jim Jordan, denying him the 217 votes he needed.
They included:
- Don Bacon (Nebraska) – voted for Kevin McCarthy.
- Lori Chavez-DeRemer (Oregon) – for McCarthy.
- Anthony D’Esposito (New York) – for former Rep. Lee Zeldin.
- Mike Lawler (New York) – for former Rep. Lee Zeldin.
- Nick LaLota (New York) – for former Rep. Lee Zeldin.
- Jen Kiggans (Virginia) – voted for McCarthy.
- Mario Diaz-Balart (Florida) – for Steve Scalise.
- Kay Granger (Texas) – for Steve Scalise.
- Tony Gonzales (Texas) – for Steve Scalise.
- Jake Ellzey (Texas) – for Mike Garcia.
- Ken Buck (Colorado) – for Tom Emmer.
- Mike Kelly (Pennsylvania) – for former Speaker John Boehner (a symbolic protest vote).
- Carlos Gimenez (Florida) – for Kevin McCarthy.
- John Rutherford (Florida) – for Steve Scalise.
- Steve Womack (Arkansas) – for Steve Scalise.
- Doug LaMalfa (California) – for Kevin McCarthy.
- Victoria Spartz (Indiana) – for Thomas Massie.
- Frank Lucas (Oklahoma) – for Tom Cole.
- John James (Michigan) – for Kevin McCarthy.
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa) – for Kay Granger.
(Different outlets group or describe some of these votes slightly differently, but this set reflects the commonly reported 20 holdouts on the first ballot.)
Second Ballot: Opposition Grows to 22
On the second vote, Jordan lost 22 Republicans , up from 20, as a few more members defected or held firm in their opposition.
Many of the original 20 stayed opposed, including high‑profile holdouts like Don Bacon, Kay Granger, Tony Gonzales, Jake Ellzey, and several New York and Florida Republicans.
Notable in this round:
- Texas Republicans Kay Granger, Tony Gonzales, and Jake Ellzey again refused to back Jordan, sticking with Scalise or other alternatives.
- Some members shifted their protest votes to different Republican names, signaling deeper resistance to Jordan rather than just a one‑off protest.
Third Ballot: 25 Republicans Vote Against Jordan
By the third floor vote, 25 Republicans opposed Jim Jordan, making his path to the gavel effectively impossible.
The full list of 25 in that third ballot, as reported at the time, consisted of largely the same core group plus a few additional defectors, combining:
- Vulnerable “Biden‑district” Republicans, such as several from New York and other swing areas.
- Appropriations and institutionalist Republicans worried about governing, spending fights, and shutdown risks.
- McCarthy loyalists still angry over how a small right‑wing bloc ousted the former speaker.
Because the third‑ballot list was an expansion of the same factional mix, news coverage focused more on the total number (25 “no” votes) and the collapse of Jordan’s bid than on re‑listing every name, but it was broadly understood as the hardened version of the earlier 20–22 member group.
Why These Republicans Broke with Jordan
Several overlapping reasons drove these Republicans to vote against Jim Jordan:
- District politics : Moderates and members from Biden‑won or swing districts worried that backing Jordan, a staunch Trump ally, could hurt them politically at home.
- Institutionalist concerns : Appropriators and long‑time institutionalists feared Jordan would push aggressive spending cuts and risk government shutdowns.
- McCarthy loyalty and process anger : Some were furious that a small right‑wing group toppled Kevin McCarthy and then tried to “strong‑arm” the conference into supporting Jordan.
- Personal and leadership style doubts : Certain members openly questioned whether Jordan’s confrontational style fit the job of Speaker, which demands coalition‑building and compromise.
Mini Table: First-Ballot GOP Holdouts (Illustrative)
| Member | State | How They Voted |
|---|---|---|
| Don Bacon | Nebraska | For Kevin McCarthy | [1][7][9][4][8]
| Lori Chavez-DeRemer | Oregon | For Kevin McCarthy | [1][7][9][4][8]
| Anthony D'Esposito | New York | For Lee Zeldin | [7][1][9][4][8]
| Kay Granger | Texas | For Steve Scalise | [10][9][4][8]
| Tony Gonzales | Texas | For Steve Scalise | [9][10][4][8]
| Jake Ellzey | Texas | For Mike Garcia | [10][8][9]
| Ken Buck | Colorado | For Tom Emmer | [1][4][8][9]
Forum-Style Take & Trending Angle
In forum and social‑media discussions, people often framed the question “what Republicans voted against Jim Jordan” as a test of how fractured the GOP had become after McCarthy’s ouster.
Commenters tended to split into two main camps:
- Pro‑Jordan voices
- Argued the holdouts were betraying the base and empowering Democrats by blocking a conservative Speaker.
* Saw Jordan as a fighter on investigations and spending who deserved unified support.
- Anti‑Jordan or skeptical Republicans and observers
- Praised the 20–25 Republicans for resisting pressure and defending institutional norms or their swing‑district voters.
* Worried that a Jordan speakership would mean constant brinkmanship on budgets and a higher risk of shutdowns.
In late 2023 and into 2024, this episode stayed a reference point in online debates about Republican Party divisions, especially whenever the House hit new internal fights over spending or leadership.
TL;DR
- Around 20–25 House Republicans repeatedly voted against Jim Jordan for Speaker across three ballots in October 2023.
- The group included moderates from swing districts, appropriators and institutionalists, and McCarthy loyalists who resisted both Jordan’s politics and the way his bid emerged.
Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.