![]() Once in Congress, Ellzey worked with Rep. But he’s made it clear he’s willing to reach across the aisle, focusing his campaign on collaboration in contrast to the more combative approach from Wright’s camp. Ellzey maintained a deeply conservative platform, and Trump eventually congratulated him for his victory. Ellzey ran against Susan Wright, the Donald Trump-endorsed widow of former Rep. He has a bipartisan streak going back to his victory in a 2021 special election. You’ve got to look out for their welfare, and that wasn't handled appropriately,” Ellzey said. “Once you want to be the commanding officer, you’ve got to take care of your people. Members opposed to Jordan’s bid reported facing death threats and harassment. Ellzey said he would be looking closely at whether or not members voted for the spending bill when giving his endorsement for the next speaker candidate.Įllzey also said he was disappointed in Jordan’s handling of the wave of vitriol directed toward members who refused to vote for him. Ellzey acknowledged it was a politically difficult bill to back but he couldn’t stomach not passing legislation that would keep the troops paid. “I believe if you want to be the commanding officer of our group, you have to have years of sustained superior performance and I didn't see that,” Ellzey said.Įllzey cited Jordan’s refusal to vote for a temporary government funding bill - an unpopular piece of legislation among far-right Republicans that ultimately led to McCarthy’s removal from the speakership. He said he didn’t see in Jordan the leadership that he expected of a speaker. He remained mum throughout the week about his reasons, but on Friday after Jordan ducked out, he gave reporters an explanation that provided new insights into Ellzey’s values and political alignment. Ellzey, an affable former state representative, is not usually one to hit back at his party or make waves, rarely if ever weighing in on personality issues with reporters. Mike Garcia of California, a fellow former fighter pilot and personal friend, for speaker (Garcia voted for Jordan).Įllzey’s break from the party came as a shock, drawing audible gasps from the House chamber during Tuesday’s vote. Jake EllzeyĮllzey, of Midlothian, is a second-term fighter pilot-turned congressman who also serves on the House Appropriations Committee with the other two Texas holdouts. The resistance from three Texans also came as a bit of a surprise as they are not typically ones to hold up Congress to force their demands. Without a speaker, the House can’t pass legislation to aid Ukraine or Israel or begin work to fund the federal government for the rest of the year.īut Republicans opposing Jordan said he was nonetheless unfit to serve, citing a variety of reasons including his far-right positions, his election denialism and his embrace of political brinkmanship. It put the House even further from filling the speaker seat, amping up the immense pressure on members. The effort eventually paid off with Jordan bowing out of the race Friday afternoon during a private conference meeting, where a majority of members indicated they’d lost faith in his chances. Jake Ellzey, Kay Granger, and Tony Gonzales joined a coalition of over 20 Republicans who refused to vote for the far-right Republican thrice this week, despite growing pressure from their peers and districts as Congress has ground to a halt. House Speaker - thanks in part to three Texans who were part of the Republican resistance that blocked the Ohio Republican from the gavel. Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |