In a surprising turn of events, House Republicans have nominated Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio as their next speaker. Jordan, a hard-right conservative and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, defeated Representative Austin Scott of Georgia, a mainstream conservative and ally of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. However, a floor vote to elect Jordan was quickly postponed as many Republican members refused to commit to backing him.

The nomination of Jordan comes after a week of turmoil and disarray within the Republican Party. The party has been plagued by bitter infighting, causing the House to become paralyzed and unable to conduct its normal business. Despite winning the nomination, Jordan's quest for the speakership still faces serious challenges, as a second secret-ballot vote revealed that a significant number of Republicans did not intend to support him on the floor. Jordan needs 217 votes to win the gavel, and it is unclear whether he will be able to secure enough support.

The divisions among Republicans have deepened with the nomination of Jordan. He is viewed by Democrats as a loyal foot soldier for former President Donald J. Trump and someone who helped instigate the attack on the Capitol. Democrats have criticized Jordan for prioritizing politics, power, fear, division, and hate over the American people. They have urged Republicans to abandon Jordan and their efforts to choose a leader, calling for a bipartisan path forward.

The nomination of Jordan also highlights the departure from congressional tradition within the Republican Party. Normally, once an internal party contest ends, members rally behind the victor. However, in this case, there has been swift repudiation of Jordan by some of his colleagues. Representative Ann Wagner of Missouri called Jordan's candidacy a "nonstarter," while Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska expressed concerns about rewarding bad behavior.

Jordan's supporters believe that the delay in taking his election to the House floor might actually benefit him. They argue that it will give time for his detractors to hear from their base voters, who are loyal to Trump and may urge support for Jordan. Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a supporter of Jordan, stated that Jordan has several days to bring people on board and address their concerns.

The Republican Party now faces the challenge of uniting behind a leader and forming a coalition government. The deep divisions and infighting have left the party in disarray, with no resolution in sight. Some members from both parties are discussing giving temporary speaker Patrick T. McHenry more power to carry out the chamber's work until the conflict can be resolved. However, the focus remains on whether Jordan can secure enough support on the House floor.

Overall, the nomination of Jim Jordan as the next speaker of the House has further deepened divisions within the Republican Party. The party remains in a state of chaos and uncertainty, with no clear path forward. The ultimate outcome of this internal power struggle will have significant implications for the future direction of the party and its ability to govern effectively.