House GOP scrambles to find path forward after voting to push out Jordan as speaker nominee

House Republicans are once again scrambling with no clear path to elect a new speaker after voting to push Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan out of the race, the latest sign of the chaos and divisions that have engulfed the majority party and left the chamber in a state of paralysis.

The stage is now set for new speaker hopefuls to emerge - and a number of Republicans jumped into the race shortly after Jordan's exit. It is increasingly uncertain, however, whether any lawmaker can get the 217 votes needed to win the gavel while Republicans control such a narrow majority. Republicans are expected to hold a candidate forum Monday evening.

The House remains effectively frozen as long as there is no elected speaker. The paralysis has created a perilous situation as Congress faces the threat of a government shutdown next month and conflict unfolds abroad. The battle for the speakership has now dragged on for more than two weeks with no end in sight.

In a dramatic turn of events, the House GOP conference voted by secret ballot on Friday to drop Jordan as their speaker designee after he failed to win the gavel for the third time in a floor vote earlier in the day.

Jordan's failure to win the gavel highlighted the limits of former President Donald Trump's influence in the speaker's race after he endorsed Jordan.

Speaking to reporters after the vote to push him out, Jordan said, "We need to come together and figure out who our speaker is going to be," and said he told the conference, "It was an honor to be their speaker designee."

The move by Republicans against Jordan came after three failed floor votes for his speaker bid and vows from the Ohio Republican to remain in the race despite mounting opposition against him.