Interim speaker plan on ice despite Jordan’s backing

House Republicans shelved a proposal to install Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick T. McHenry in a more official role possibly through December just hours after the speaker-designate, Rep. Jim Jordan, gave it his blessing on Thursday.

Facing an increasingly imperiled bid to become speaker due to lack of support within the conference, Jordan had told House Republicans on Thursday morning that he would instead support expanding McHenry’s authority to get the chamber functioning again temporarily.

But GOP lawmakers leaving an hourslong meeting Thursday afternoon said there was little support for empowering McHenry either, even if just for a few months.

“We made the pitch to members on the resolution as a way to lower the temperature and get back to work. We decided that wasn’t where we’re going to go,” Jordan, R-Ohio, said. “I’m still running for speaker, and I plan to go to the floor and get the votes and win this race.”