Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives meet to vote again Wednesday as Republican Rep. Jim Jordan seeks to secure enough support from his party to become the next House speaker.

Jordan, a hardline conservative and ally of former President Donald Trump, fell short of a majority in a vote Tuesday, as 20 Republicans cast their votes for other members.

His 200 votes also trailed House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who received 212 votes but does not have a path to the speaker’s chair given the Republican majority in the House.

Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives meet to vote again Wednesday as Republican Rep. Jim Jordan seeks to secure enough support from his party to become the next House speaker.

Jordan, a hardline conservative and ally of former President Donald Trump, fell short of a majority in a vote Tuesday, as 20 Republicans cast their votes for other members.

His 200 votes also trailed House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who received 212 votes but does not have a path to the speaker’s chair given the Republican majority in the House.

Jordan, a divisive figure on Capitol Hill, could become the third candidate to fail to unite the Republican Party, which has left the chamber leaderless following the ousting of former speaker Kevin McCarthy two weeks ago. Congressman Steve Scalise withdrew his name from contention after failing to garner enough support among Republicans. (VOA)

•PHOTO:Temporary House leader Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., presides as Republicans try to elect Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a top Donald Trump ally, to be the new House speaker, at the Capitol in Washington, Oct. 17, 2023.