The latest news and updates on the House speaker fight:
- Rep. Jim Jordan, of Ohio, became the second Republican nominated this week to be House speaker, besting Rep. Austin Scott, of Georgia, in a closed-door vote.
- Rep. Steve Scalise, of Louisiana, abandoned his bid to be the next speaker, throwing in the towel when he couldn't get enough support in his caucus even after being nominated by House Republicans to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy, of California.
- Democrats are backing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, of New York.
- The race was triggered last week when Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., moved to oust the speaker and won a majority vote when all Democrats and eight Republicans voted against McCarthy. Gaetz has said he would support Jordan or Scalise.
- Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., was made the temporary speaker when McCarthy was ousted last week, but has minimal power.
Ron DeSantis praises Jordan, decries House 'chaos'
Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis offered some warm words for Jordan today, and called for House Republicans to "get their act together."
"I’ve known Jim for a long time. He’s a friend," DeSantis said of the close ally of his rival Donald Trump. "He’s a good guy. I wish him well," the Florida governor told reporters at a campaign stop in New Hampshire.
DeSantis, a former congressman, had previously called Scalise a “good guy" as well after the Louisiana Republican launched his now-failed speaker bid.
DeSantis today said it remains to be seen if Jordan can get the 217 votes needed to be speaker, while adding that the current situation is untenable. "Chaos for the sake of chaos doesn't work," he said.
Defeated speaker candidate Scott calls for GOP to unite behind Jordan
After being defeated by Jordan, Scott called on his Republican colleagues to unite behind the Ohio congressman.
"I highly respect Jim Jordan. He is an asset to the Republican Party and our nominee for Speaker," Scott said in a post on X. "Our conference has spoken, and now we must unite behind Jordan so we can get Congress back to work."
Hakeem Jeffries calls Jordan 'chairman of the chaos caucus'
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries blasted Jordan after Republicans nominated him to be the next speaker.
Jeffries, D-N.Y., called Jordan "the chairman of the chaos caucus, a defender in a dangerous way of dysfunction, and an extremist extraordinaire.”
“House Republicans now have a choice," he said, adding that there "are only two paths forward.
"On the one hand, House Republicans continue to triple down on the chaos, the dysfunction and the extremism that has been visited upon the American people as a result of the House Republicans civil war," Jeffries said. "On the other hand, traditional Republicans can break away from the extremism, partner with Democrats on an enlightened bipartisan path forward so we can end the recklessness and get back to doing the business of the American people.”
Republicans told to go home until Monday night
Members have been advised “that no votes are expected in the House until approximately 6:00 p.m. on Monday, October 16,” according to an email obtained by NBC News from Majority Whip Tom Emmer’s office.
Pennsylvania congressman says McCarthy advocating for Jordan
After Jordan showed he was over 50 votes from where he needs to be in the second vote, McCarthy got up to speak in support of the Ohio congressman who's trying for his old job, Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., told reporters.
McCarthy predicted Jordan would be the next speaker, Meuser said.
McCarthy thinks Jordan can get to 217
McCarthy said he doesn't think Jordan should be deterred that he only got 152 votes on the second ballot measuring his support.
"I don't see a problem with him now getting that," McCarthy said. "I think that people have been here a long time. We've now elected a speaker designee. I think people go home be with their family and come back."
House Republicans eye Tuesday floor vote for speaker
Multiple GOP lawmakers said today that the goal is to hold a House floor vote on Tuesday for the next speaker.
Jordan increases support on second vote
On a second vote gauging whether members would support Jordan on the House floor, the vote tally was 152 yes, 55 no and 1 present, according to Rep. French Hill and confirmed by an aide.
That means Jordan increased his support by 28 members compared with the first vote in which he defeated Scott in a 124-81 vote.
Pete Sessions: Republicans going home for weekend
Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, told reporters outside the meeting that Republicans are headed home for the weekend and will resume trying to elect a speaker on Monday.
Rep. Scott Perry says Republicans holding second vote
Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., told reporters Republicans are holding a second vote to see how much support Jordan would get on the floor.
He predicted there would be far fewer "protest" votes in the second vote. "I bet you there's going to be hardly any," Perry said.