WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Hardline conservative Jim Jordan told his fellow Republicans he will suspend his bid to serve as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and back Republican Patrick McHenry to fill the role on a temporary basis, a lawmaker said on Thursday.
The House has been without a leader for more than two weeks, and Jordan has twice failed to secure the 217 votes needed to claim the speaker’s gavel as he has faced opposition from Democrats and more than 20 of his fellow Republicans.
Asked what he expected as he enterer a closed-door meeting with other Republicans, Jordan said only, “I’m not gonna know until I talk to my colleagues.”