WASHINGTON, DC (WTAQ-WLUK) – Representatives Glenn Grothman (R-WI 6th District) and Mike Gallagher (R-WI 8th District) are speaking out following House Republicans’ second failure to elect a speaker Tuesday.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) fell short of the 217 required votes in his bid to win the House speakership after 20 Republicans sided with all Democrats to reject his first ballot. A second vote is expected Wednesday morning.
Reps. Grothman and Gallagher were among the 200 Republicans to vote in favor of Rep. Jordan’s candidacy.
FOX 11 reached out to each of the Northeast Wisconsin representatives for their reactions to the failed vote. Both expressed their frustration with the GOP holdouts preventing the House from electing a new speaker.
“We’ve had three Republicans win an internal vote… Out of pettiness, none have been able to secure the 217 votes necessary. Very disappointing,” Rep. Grothman said in a statement.
Rep. Gallagher echoed similar sentiments. “The House cannot rein in government spending, rebuild the military, or deliver critical support to Israel without a Speaker of the House. The conference selected Jim Jordan as its nominee to be Speaker and we should move forward with that decision so we can get back to work on the issues facing this country.”
On Oct. 3, Kevin McCarthy became the first Speaker of the House in U.S. history to be ousted. Steve Scalise ended his bid for the speakership on Thursday after failing to secure the votes to win the gavel.
