After facing intense backlash for stating that he would rather work with Democrats to elect a House Speaker instead of voting for House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) for the role, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) finally changed his mind — announcing his endorsement of Jordan.
Rogers, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, has been a vocal critic of the eight conservative lawmakers who voted to remove then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for failing to keep his promises. Rogers has also been organizing members of both the Armed Services Committee and Appropriations Committee to vote against Jordan for the speakership.
He even expressed his preference for working with Democrats to form a unity government instead of choosing Jordan, likely because of the Ohio congressman’s opposition to continued funding of the Ukraine war.
Rogers faced significant criticism from his voters and colleagues for expressing the desire to betray them rather than vote for a conservative candidate like Jordan, who has a lot of support among the Republican voter base.
“It’s outrageous that Jim Jordan has been nominated by the party, has the support of McCarthy and McHenry, and yet Mike Rogers and a few House Republicans would rather work with Democrats. If you’re a House Republican, please vote for Jim Jordan—not Hakeem Jeffries,” Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
It’s outrageous that Jim Jordan has been nominated by the party, has the support of McCarthy and McHenry, and yet Mike Rogers and a few House Republicans would rather work with Democrats. If you’re a House Republican, please vote for Jim Jordan—not Hakeem Jeffries. https://t.co/n7DQFCTNGa
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) October 14, 2023
“Rep. Mike Rogers is actively working with Democrats to strike a deal that would stop Jim Jordan from becoming Speaker of the House. I think it’s high time for Alabamians of the 3rd District to call this guy out. JIM JORDAN FOR SPEAKER, Mike!” wrote Ryan Fournier, founder of Students for Trump.
Rep. Mike Rogers is actively working with Democrats to strike a deal that would stop Jim Jordan from becoming Speaker of the House.
I think it's high time for Alabamians of the 3rd District to call this guy out.
JIM JORDAN FOR SPEAKER, Mike!
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) October 14, 2023
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) also condemned Rogers, explaining that he was shocked to learn that his fellow Alabama congressman “prefers to work with Socialist Democrats” than to “work with America First Republicans.”
.@RepMikeRogersAL says he will NEVER vote #DonaldTrump-endorsed #JimJordanforSpeaker
Is shocks me Mike Rogers SAYS he prefers to work with #Socialist #Democrats to elect #HouseSpeaker than work with America First Republicans
Hopefully Rogers misquotedhttps://t.co/W3orh1gVDB
— Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) October 14, 2023
Following the backlash, Rogers reversed course — explaining in a series of posts on X that he had “decided to support Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House on the floor” after “two cordial, thoughtful, and productive conversations over the past two days.”
As a result, I have decided to support Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House on the floor. (2/3)
— Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) October 16, 2023
With the support of Rogers, Jordan has a much better chance of garnering the 217 votes necessary to win the speakership. Jordan has called for a speaker vote on Tuesday.
