Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is reportedly considering a plan that involves him returning as House speaker with House Judiciary Committee chairman and failed speaker candidate Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) serving as assistant speaker.
The plan is in its early stages and hasn’t even been pitched yet to the House Republican conference, but sources familiar with the idea told NBC News it would be similar to the arrangement between Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Katherine Clark.
Some House Republicans began discussing this idea after their third nominee for speaker, House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) dropped out of the race Tuesday hours after he was selected as their nominee because he lacked the votes to get to 217 on the House floor.
The House has been without a speaker for three weeks since McCarthy’s ouster on Oct. 3. Asked why Republicans are discussing this idea of a joint speakership, one lawmaker told NBC News “we’re desperate.”
But, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is not yet sold on the idea and is waiting for more information.
“I want to hear more about it and understand how it works,” Greene told reporters. “So I don’t vote for bills I haven’t read. I wouldn’t vote for something that I don’t understand.”
For now though Republicans are back at square one and is once again voting for a new nominee for speaker Tuesday night.
