Amidst the divisive struggle for the speakership within the Republican party, various GOP members are contending with a deluge of irate phone calls, provocative messages, and chilling death threats. This unsettling situation unfolded after they expressed opposition to Rep. Jim Jordan’s bid for House speakership, further exacerbating the tense ambiance that prevails within the party ranks as they strive to elect a speaker.
Having shifted her speakership vote from Jim Jordan to the House Appropriations Chair, Kay Granger, Iowa’s Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks found herself the recipient of “credible death threats and a menacing salvo of hostile phone calls”. Rep. Nick LaLota from New York revealed a similarly volatile communication received via social media, demanding a harsh and violent fate.
For Arkansas’ Rep. Steve Womack, an onslaught of phone calls saturated his office. The calls contained “ample profanity,” albeit didn’t constitute serious threats. Conversely, the wife of Nebraska’s Rep. Don Bacon was targeted with alarming text messages. Bacon, an overt non-supporter of Jordan, found his spouse receiving anonymous warnings aimed at reprimanding his anti-Jordan stance, threatening his future political career in venomous terms.
Despite the fierce backlash, Jordan has been unsuccessful in securing the speakership in two voting rounds, facing 22 GOP votes opposition in the Wednesday ballot – significantly higher than the scant number his party’s narrow House majority could accommodate. This drawn-out tussle for the speaker’s seat, precipitated by Kevin McCarthy’s unprecedented dismissal, has sparked mounting tensions and dissatisfaction within the House Republican conference.
Jordan vehemently disapproved the death threats on Wednesday, labelling them as “absolutely wrong” and asserting that no individual, irrespective of their political affiliation, should ever be subjected to such atrocities.
However, the Republicans who opposed Jordan have emphatically voiced their concerns about what they perceive as a harsh campaign to pressurize them. They claim that the incendiary rhetoric and publicizing of their office contact details, inciting Jordan’s advocates to deluge these offices with supportive calls, have further solidified their resistance. Womack denounced these aggressive tactics, likening them to a relentless assault strategy aimed at subjugating non-supporters.
In addition to the hostility experienced by GOP members, Rep. Carlos Gimenez and others have reported being targeted by robo-calls advocating for Jordan. When Gimenez confronted Jordan about the issue, Jordan disclaimed involvement.
Among Jordan’s naysayers are moderate Republicans wary of the prospective GOP House figure being a hardline conservative. Moreover, resentment lingers against the small faction of Republicans who catalyzed McCarthy’s expulsion and subsequently defied House Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s gavel bid. While Scalise initially triumphed over Jordan within the GOP conference for the speaker’s nomination, he later withdrew amid resistance to his candidature.
When queried by CNN on his persistence in the race despite an unimproving pathway to 217, Jordan noted that McCarthy had substantially more time to garner support. Emphasizing the urgency of electing a speaker, Jordan vowed to continuously engage their colleagues towards achieving this objective.
