Jim Jordan fails on second House speaker’s ballot

Washington (CBS) — Rep. Jim Jordan failed Wednesday on the second ballot to secure enough votes to become House speaker, leaving the lower chamber without a leader as Republicans’ path forward remained unclear.

All total, 22 Republicans voted against Jordan, as four more Republicans voted against him and he picked up two Republicans, Reps. Doug LaMalfa of California and Victoria Spartz of Virginia.

Some Republicans — including two former GOP House speakers — on Wednesday indicated they want the lower chamber to increase the power of Rep. Patrick McHenry, the speaker pro tempore. One key Republican source texted CBS News after the vote that “all roads lead to McHenry.”

But any effort to empower McHenry would likely require support from House Democrats, with some saying they favor a vote to expand his authority to allow for consideration of a limited legislative agenda.

House Democrats on Wednesday uniformly voted for their leader, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.