Republican Plan to Empower Temporary Speaker Unravels

House Speaker vote in stalemate, plan to empower Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry hits roadblock.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) walks through the halls at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 19, 2023. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

A plan to temporarily empower Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) to conduct House business appears to be faltering.

Speaker Designate Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) favored the plan after his candidacy lost rather than gained support among Republicans in a second ballot cast on Oct. 18 in the House.