Speaker Rollcall Begins Amid Talk Of Elevating ProTem McHenry

The House of Representatives is now undertaking a second rollcall to elect a new speaker. GOP nominee, House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH), will require 217 votes to win the speakership.

• Livestream: C-SPAN
• There is a general atmosphere of pessimism on Capitol Hill that Jordan has done enough to flip sufficient votes to win. With that in mind, analysts are considering the path forward if Jordan loses, or fails to reduce the 20 vote opposition from yesterday's vote.
• Jake Sherman at Punchbowl News writes: "A LOT of talk on the floor right now about what comes after Jordan loses the second ballot. MANY House Rs are pushing for a vote to make [Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC)] speaker for some period of time -- into Jan. 2024. OTHERS want a closed House Republican Conference meeting."
• Elevating McHenry appears the most credible offramp to the crisis. His installation as a formal interim speaker wouldn't alter Republican control of committees or influence legislation. For Democrats it wouldn't resolve the, "Republican civil war" - a political helpful dynamic for Democrats ahead of 2024 - but it would allow critical FY24 bills and Ukraine/Israel legislation to reach the floor.
• Jordan told reporters this morning: “I think we gotta decide today, are we going to have a Republican speaker or …is the body going to adopt this resolution with the speaker pro tem.”