A second House Republican who did not support Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) for speaker in the second ballot on Wednesday said he is facing death threats.
Like Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), who previously announced that she was receiving death threats over the speaker’s race, Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA) voted for Jordan in the first ballot on Tuesday and then voted for Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) in the second.
“As the Republican Conference designee, I supported Congressman Jordan on the first ballot,” Ferguson said in a statement. “Following the first vote, I had genuine concerns about the threatening tactics and pressure campaigns Jordan and his allies were using to leverage members for their votes.”
Ferguson said he discussed the issue “directly” with Jordan and planned to support the Ohio Republican on the second ballot, but he opted to back Scalise when the coercion did not cease.
“When the pressure campaigns and attacks on fellow members ramped up, it became clear to me that the House Republican Conference does not need a bully as speaker,” Ferguson said. “I cast my vote for Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a principled conservative and unifying leader. Shortly after casting that vote, my family and I started receiving death-threats. That is simply unacceptable, unforgivable, and will never be tolerated.”
Miller-Meeks announced on Wednesday that she was receiving death threats following her vote for House Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) on the second ballot. Another GOP lawmaker who has opposed Jordan’s bid, Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), said his wife received anonymous calls and text messages about the speaker vote.
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Jordan, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, released a statement on X condemning threats against fellow members of the House. “No American should accost another for their beliefs,” Jordan said. “We condemn all threats against our colleagues and it is imperative that we come together. Stop. It’s abhorrent.”
So far, no one has been able to win the requisite majority to secure the speakership.
After two defeats in which at least 20 Republicans opposed his bid, Jordan reportedly indicated that he supports a vote to give Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-NC) temporary expanded powers to get legislative business done while the chamber works to find a viable candidate.