With Rep. Jim Jordan's candidacy for House speaker in doubt Wednesday, a growing number of Republicans and Democrats were coalescing around a plan to formally elect Rep. Patrick McHenry as speaker pro tempore, to allow Congress to perform basic functions.
Jordan lost his first ballot for speaker on Tuesday, with 20 Republicans and all Democrats voting against him.
The House is scheduled to consider Jordan for speaker again at 11 a.m.
The House has been without a speaker for two weeks, following the ouster of GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California spurred by a small bloc of right-wing Republicans.
Congress is facing a Nov. 17 deadline to craft and pass a spending bill to keep the federal government from shutting down.
Persons:
House Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry, Jim Jordan, Jim Jordan's, Patrick McHenry, Jordan, Kevin McCarthy of
Organizations:
House Pro Tempore, U.S . Rep, U.S . House, Representatives, U.S, Capitol, Republican, NBC News, Rep, Republicans, Congress
Locations:
Washington , U.S, Ohio, McHenry, Kevin McCarthy of California