Note: This story was updated on Oct. 18 to correct the identity of the person accused of sexual misconduct on the Ohio State University wrestling team.
NASHVILLE — U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, came up short Tuesday during the first round of balloting to become the U.S. House’s new speaker. But it wasn’t due to a lack of effort by Tennessee and Georgia Republicans.
Tennessee and Georgia Republicans all voted in favor of Jordan, a conservative hardliner and co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus. Democrats voted no.
But 20 Republicans from other states voted for other Republicans, among them former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California, who was deposed two weeks ago by an oddball coalition of Democrats and eight staunch Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tennessee.
Jordan plans to resume his push Wednesday morning, he said.