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Habersham County E-911 receives its first perfect GCIC audit

Habersham County E-911 Director Lynn Smith, right, presents Belinda Konarski with a certificate recognizing her achievement in attaining a perfect audit. (Jerry Neace/NowHabersham.com)

Habersham County E-911 and its staff recently received the agency’s first-ever perfect Georgia Crime Information Center audit. E-911 Director Lynn Smith credits Supervisor Terminal Agency Coordinator Belinda Konarski with that accomplishment.

The rules of the GCIC Council mandate audits of criminal justice agencies that access the Georgia Criminal Justice Information System network to assess compliance with the rules of the GCIC Council and other relevant state and federal statutes.

An audit of the Habersham County 911 was conducted on October 4, 2023, to assess compliance and that audit reflected that the agency was compliant in all areas evaluated, according to Compliance Specialist Melanie A. Harris of GCIC.

Smith publicly expressed her congratulations to Konarski and the entire Habersham County E-911 staff.

“This is the first time in the history of Habersham County E-911 [for a perfect audit]” she stressed. “I am very proud of each of you for your help with this and Belinda for keeping us all in compliance and doing as we should. Well done, Belinda!”

Review board denies Helen businessman’s package store license appeal

Cleveland Alcohol Review Board members are, from left, Chair Ken Payne, Charles Massingale, Haley Thomas, and Vice Chair Jesse Harkins. (Dean Dyer/WRWH.com)

CLEVELAND, Ga. — The re-established City of Cleveland’s Alcohol Review Board had its first meeting Monday night and elected officers.

The city has had a review board in the past, but it hasn’t been utilized for some time, so the city council decided to reestablish the board. The new board is made up of Jesse Harkins, Haley Thomas, Charles Massengale, and Ken Payne. The first three will serve as the voting members, with Payne acting as an alternate and voting when necessary.

Charles Massingale was selected as chairman, and Jesse Harkins was voted the vice chair.

After an orientation about their role and responsibilities presented by City Administrator Kevin Harris, the board got down to business.

Helen Cellar appeal

Their first real item of business was to hear an appeal from one of the applicants for a package store license in the city that will be issued this week.

Justin Whitmire discusses his license application denial with the review board during a meeting on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Dean Dyer/WRWH.com)

Justin Whitmire, owner of Helen Cellar, was one of five applicants for what will be three such businesses allowed in the city. Whitmire’s application was disqualified because his proposed site was found to be not within the city limits. Whitmire shared with the board during the hearing that at the time he made the application, he was told the property was in Cleveland.

An effort to get the property annexed into the Helen has not been successful at this time.

After hearing from Whitmire and three of the other applicants who said it was unfair to let Whitmire’s application move forward, the board voted to deny his appeal.

The city will now move forward with a lottery process this Thursday to decide which of the four remaining applicants will receive one of the three licenses to be awarded.

A map of the property Whitmire purchased shows its sits just outside Helen city limits. (WRWH.com)

Scott Lee Baxter

Scott Lee Baxter, age 75, of Demorest (formerly of Escondido, CA), passed away on October 11, 2023, surrounded by his loved ones.

Born in San Diego, California, on March 10, 1948, Mr. Baxter was the son of the late Harry and Dorothy Dutcher Baxter. In addition to his parents, Mr. Baxter is preceded in death by sister Susan Wentz and brother-in-law Leroy Wentz, father and mother-in-law Joe and Alexandria Nix, sister-in-law Bernice Nix Ayers, and special nephew Ethan Scott Nix.
Survivors include his beloved wife, Cheryl Nix Baxter of Demorest, nephew Richard Wentz (Linda), nieces Karen Jacobsen (Tony), Kristen Petite, Robin Butts (Tom) and Sandy McElhenney (Rich), brothers-in-law Joe Nix (Victoria), Ray Nix (Teresa), and Alcide “Scooter” Nix (Carrie), his nieces and nephews by marriage, as well as numerous great nieces, great nephews and extended family members.

Mr. Baxter was a retired civil engineer with the City of Escondido, California. He was a lifetime bowler with many perfect games and championships. He enjoyed traveling, photography, and cycling. He loved all types of music and enjoyed performing Karaoke. His dry and quirky sense of humor kept everyone laughing.

The family would also like to express their gratitude to caregivers Tonya Oglesby, brother-in-law Scooter Nix, and niece Alexandria “Lexi” Nix Erwin. Many thanks and appreciation to both Northeast Georgia Hospice and Amedisys Hospice for the love and compassion shown to them during this time.

No public services will be held at this time.

An online guest book is available at www.hillsidememorialchapel.com.

James Thomas LaHayne

James Thomas LaHayne, 32, of Clarkesville, GA, died after his valiant battle against cancer on October 16, 2023.

Thomas was born in Demorest, GA, in 1991 to Rick and Cathy Bates LaHayne, of Batesville. He attended Habersham Central High School before joining the Marine Corps in December 2011. He honorably served his country in the Marine Corps until he was medically retired in October 2020. Thomas served his country and the Marine Corps as a powerline Mechanic on C130s.

Thomas married the love of his life, Staci, on September 21, 2013. They welcomed their beautiful daughter Bailee two years later, on April 5, 2015. As a family, they spent their time outdoors, hunting or at the ballfield. Thomas loved watching Bailee play sports and spent a lot of his time coaching her basketball and softball teams. He was a lifelong UGA and Braves fan and was blessed to take his daughter to her first game opportunities for both teams this year.

Everyone who knew Thomas knew how much he loved hunting and working with his hands. He was proud to graduate from the Sonoran Desert Institute with his Associate’s Degree in FireArm Technology. He spent his free time building guns, sharing his knowledge with friends and family, and hunting in the great outdoors. Thomas’ final wish was for all of his family and friends to come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior so that they could all be together with him in Heaven.

Thomas was preceded in death by numerous loved ones, including his maternal grandparents, Thomas and Nancy Bates of Cornelia.

He is survived by his loving wife, Staci LaHayne, and daughter Bailee Jade LaHayne. He is also survived by his father and mother, Rick and Cathy LaHayne; siblings, Justin LaHayne, Zachary LaHayne, and Nancy Woodbury; loving in-laws; his life-long friend Austin Tench; as well as 14 nieces, nephews, other relatives, as well as a host of friends.

Funeral services are scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Friday, October 20, 2023, at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville, with Rev. Scott Doster, Rev. Brian Stephens, & Rev. Gordon Sanders officiating.

The family will receive friends at Hillside Memorial Chapel in Clarkesville from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20, 2023.

Donations to Take the Trip Foundation (Jason Carroll) secure.givelively.org/donate/take-the-trip-foundation or HCLC in care of the Nancy Bates Endowment Fund, 188 Owens Circle, Mount Airy, GA. 30563 in lieu of flowers would be greatly appreciated.

As a final request, the family asks that you take a moment to enjoy a bowl of Ramen in honor and memory of Thomas, as it was a favorite food after his time spent with the Marine Corps in Japan.

An online guest registry is available for the LaHayne family at www.HillsideMemorialChapel.com.

Arrangements are in the care & professional direction of Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens of Clarkesville, Georgia. (706) 754-6256

Glenn Kash Combs

Glenn Kash Combs, 76, of Demorest, GA, went to be with our lord on October 15, 2023.

He was born on September 15, 1947, in Wolfe County, Kentucky, to the late Cecil and Addie Francis Combs.

In addition to his parents, Glenn was preceded in death by his wife, Elwanda Burton Combs, and daughter, Celeste Combs.

He served in the meat department of multiple grocery stores throughout his career as a butcher.

Glenn is survived by his daughters, Addie Hart of Canada; Glenna Combs, of Pendergrass; Christy Combs, of Baldwin; sister, Willma Rice of Kentucky; grandchildren, Logan Hart, Kaitlin Hart, Brendan Hart, all of Canada; Krystal Blaker of Gainesville, Joseph Blaker, of Gainesville; and Mandi Simpson, of Mt. Airy.

A private family service will be held at at later date.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Whitfield Funeral Homes & Crematory, North Chapel, at 245 Central Avenue, Demorest, Georgia 30535. Telephone: 706-778-1700

Jim Jordan fails to win speakership on first round

Ohio Republican Congressman Jim Jordan, center, speaks with fellow Republicans on the House floor after losing the first ballot in his bid to become House speaker. (livestream image U.S. House or Representatives)

Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan lost the first round of balloting in his bid to become the next U.S. House speaker. Twenty Republicans voted against him.

Jordan received 200 votes to Democrat Hakeem Jeffries’ 212. The GOP’s anti-Jordan contingent cast six votes for former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, seven votes for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and three for former New York GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin, among other alternatives.

The 20 Republicans who voted against Jordan included House Appropriations Chair Kay Granger, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado, and a quartet of New York Republicans in purple districts.

An ally of Rep. Jim Jordan told reporters, “this is much worse than we expected.”

Flashback to January

The scene on the House floor Tuesday was reminiscent of January when it took 15 ballots to elect Kevin McCarthy as House speaker.

McCarthy was ousted last month when a small group of far-right conservative Republicans led by Matt Gaetz of Florida challenged his speakership.

The House went into recess following Tuesday’s vote. Jordan has pushed a second vote to Wednesday.

Fulton trial of Trump allies nears

Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee hears motions from attorneys representing Ken Chesebro and Sidney Powell in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. (Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)

(GA Recorder) — Do eligible jurors exist in Fulton County who haven’t formed strong opinions about Donald Trump and his allies accused of trying to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss in Georgia?

We’ll soon find out. A jury selection process is scheduled to begin on Friday for the first trial in the Fulton County 2020 presidential election interference case when 450 prospective jurors are expected to complete a lengthy questionnaire about the high-profile case.

On Monday, Fulton County prosecutors and the defense attorneys for Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro argued before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee about whether several questions gauging jurors’ opinions about prominent witnesses and Trump supporters should be included in the final cut of the jury questionnaire. On Friday, the first half of a jury pool of 900 was summoned to the downtown Atlanta courthouse ahead of Monday’s scheduled opening day of the trial for Chesebro and Powell.

The pair are set to be the first of the 19 defendants to stand trial in the sweeping racketeering case that alleges Trump and 18 allies illegally tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia and several other states.

In Fulton County court Monday, Chesebro and Powell’s attorney argued against McAfee excluding questions about whether potential jurors believe that Trump and his associates attempted to steal their vote and whether they think that the typical Republican MAGA supporter is bigoted.

Scott Grubman, Chesebro’s attorney, said the unique circumstances of the conspiracy case being prosecuted under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act warrant a judge exercising greater discretion.

“To ask them simply, ‘are you going to be fair and impartial?’ it goes completely against all of the social science that is out there,” Grubman said. “The only people who are going to say no to that question are people who want to be off this jury. Everyone else is going to convince themselves, of course, I can be fair and impartial.”

McAfee said he’s likely to exclude these types of questions from the questionnaire but said that attorneys from both sides should be able to identify potential red flags later on during the selection process.

“I get completely what you’re talking about when you say this is how we figure out what these jurors actually think,” McAfee said.  “Ultimately, what I’m applying is decades of case law that says we’re not supposed to ask jurors opinions up front.”

McAfee also said he would remove an open-ended question asking for jurors’ opinions of Powell and Chesebro. In addition, he plans to work on how to rephrase how to ask potential jurors about any biases they may have toward co-defendants and District Attorney Fani Willis.

The jury survey is also expected to inquire what types of statements that a prospective juror has posted on social media regarding Trump and his allies.

“Just because it’s struck from the questionnaire doesn’t mean it’s foreclosed from going into on in individual questioning,” McAfee said. “We’re asking overall if we think there is anything outright that shows bias or fixed opinion and I don’t think we need to keep asking that a dozen different ways on the questionnaire.”

On Monday, McAfee agreed to include the names of each defendant in the questionnaire background as part of a compromise to prosecutors’ objections to the defense proposing open-ended questions about jurors’ opinions of witnesses and defendants.

Powell’s attorney Bill Rafferty pushed for the initial query to reference notable witnesses for the trial, such as Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, conservative media personality Alex Jones, Trump’s chief strategist Steve Bannon and Michael Flynn, who served as Trump’s national security advisor.

He argued that would streamline jury selection for a monthslong case in which prosecutors plan to present the same evidence and more than 150 witnesses at each trial.

“If the government’s intention is to offer up a lot of information about President Trump, Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman that has nothing to do with my client, we’d ask the court to ask jurors about their opinions about these individuals,” Rafferty said.

Prosecutors contended that asking jurors how they feel about potential state witnesses is inappropriate since it’s asking them to decide ahead of trial which side they believe is more credible.

McAfee agreed with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office not to seek jurors’ opinions about specific witnesses.

“Whether we can find a jury that’s fair and impartial is the ultimate question, so how they feel about a potential witness is unnecessary,” he said.

Volleyball Rolls to 3-0 Win at Toccoa Falls

(Photo by Mooreshots LLC)

TOCCOA, Ga. – In a step out of conference competition, the Piedmont volleyball team rolled to a 3-0 victory on the road at Toccoa Falls Monday.

The Lions got off to a strong start taking an 8-0 lead out of the gate and cruised to a 25-16 win in the opening set. Piedmont led 15-4 before a 7-0 run from the Screaming Eagles put them back in contention.

Piedmont was able to hold off Toccoa Falls with a 25-17 and 25-18 win for the straight sets sweep.

This marked the second victory of the season over the Screaming Eagles and moved Piedmont’s record to .500 on the season.

Katie Hubbard led Piedmont with 12 kills, while Jenna Ash added 11. Taylor Herrmann led with 20 digs, while Kaylee Ashcraft added 19. Ashcraft also tallied three aces.

Up next, the Lions host Agnes Scott on Wednesday

TURNING POINT:
–Piedmont used an 8-0 start to the first set to create momentum and coast to the 3-0 win.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
–Katie Hubbard continued her impressive sophomore season with a team-high 12 kills.

Men’s golf improves by 15 strokes in round two of Golfweek October Classic

(Photo by Kodiak Creative)

SANDESTIN, Fla. – The Piedmont men’s golf team made major strides in Round Two of the Golfweek October Classic, improving on its first round score by 15 strokes.

The top two in the lineup stepped up in a big way, with Josh Hebrink and Adam Rogers each carding rounds of 1-over 72 to lead the way.

Hebrink led the team with four birdies on his round and closed strong, playing his final four holes in -2 with a birdie at the last.

Josh Hebrink – Scorecard 10.16.23

Rogers began his day going under par, with back-to-back birdies at the fourth and the fifth. The sophomore from Vero Beach, Florida, had an even par round until a bogey at the last moved him over par for the first time all day.

Adam Rogers – Scorecard 10.16.23

Overall, Cam Lucas sits tied with Hebrink among the Lions, as he delivered another round in the 70’s, backing up his opening 75 with a 77 on Monday.

Tom Yao delivered a gritty 75 with a pair of birdies.

All four Lions that completed their round on Monday made at least two birdies to move the team up into a three-way tie for 22nd on the team leaderboard.

Methodist leads on the team side with 18 holes to play at 2-under for the event, one stroke ahead of Illinois Wesleyan.

Carnegie Mellon’s Justin Chan backed up a first round 65 with a second round 67 to lead the individual event by five shots.

The event will conclude with the final 18 holes tomorrow, with Piedmont scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m.

LIONS ON THE LEADERBOARD:

T22 Piedmont University 311 296 607
T72 Josh Hebrink (1) 80 72 152
T72 Cameron Lucas (5) 75 77 152
T85 Adam Rogers (2) 81 72 153
T124 Tom Yao (3) 0 75 75
T124 Eric Penland (4) 75 0 75

Biden will visit Israel to demonstrate U.S. support following Hamas attack

President Joe Biden, joined by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, delivers remarks on the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel in the State Dining Room of the White House on Oct. 10, 2023 in Washington, D.C. (White House livestream image)

(GA Recorder) — President Joe Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday in a show of solidarity with the Middle East ally, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday.

Biden will “reaffirm the United States’ solidarity with Israel and our ironclad commitment to its security,” send a message to other groups and powers in the region not to attack Israel and work to secure the release of hostages still held by the militant group Hamas, Blinken said during a brief appearance Monday evening in Israel.

“President Biden will again make clear, as he’s done unequivocally since Hamas’ slaughter of more than 1,400 people, including at least 30 Americans, that Israel has the right and indeed the duty to defend its people from Hamas and other terrorists and to prevent future attacks,” Blinken said. “The president will hear from Israel what it needs to defend its people as we continue to work with Congress to meet those needs.”

Biden and top administration officials have made strong statements of support for Israel since Hamas’ surprise attack Oct. 7. Retaliatory air strikes and a siege cutting off food and other supplies to the Gaza Strip, where Hamas is based, have killed more than 2,600 in that territory as well, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited Israel late last week to demonstrate support in person. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also led a bipartisan Senate delegation there that included Democrats Jacky Rosen of Nevada and Mark Kelly of Arizona and Republicans Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mitt Romney of Utah.

Biden canceled a planned trip to Pueblo, Colorado, on Monday to instead meet with his national security team at the White House. As of Monday evening, the White House had not made any statement about the president’s travel.

Israel aid package in the works

Hamas still holds more than 199 hostages, Schumer said in a Monday floor speech, likely including U.S. citizens.

Schumer, a New York Democrat and highest ranking Jewish elected official in the U.S., said that he would work with the White House to approve an aid package to Israel that includes military, intelligence, diplomatic and humanitarian assistance.

“In the coming days, I will be working with the administration on putting together an emergency supplemental that will give Israel the tools it needs to defend itself,” Schumer said.

The Senate will act first on the package, Schumer said, as the U.S. House remains mired in a leadership crisis following the ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, also spoke Monday in support of Israel, saying the U.S. should back Israel’s “efforts to defend itself for as long as it takes.”

“This is not merely a terrorist war against Israel,” McConnell said. “It’s part of a clear and present danger to the United States and the entire civilized world. This … is a time for choosing. As Israel works to eliminate the terrorists who threaten its existence, the United States must reaffirm our commitment to Israel’s security.”

Israeli officials have said their goal is to eliminate Hamas, and many members of Congress have endorsed that objective.

But the task is complicated by Hamas’ “ability to scatter and hide within the protective shield of Gaza’s civilian population,” according to an issue brief last week by Bruce Hoffman, a senior fellow for counterterrorism and homeland security at the Washington think tank Council on Foreign Relations.

‘We are not like the evil militants of Hamas’

Schumer highlighted the need to provide humanitarian aid for civilians who have been affected by the violence and called for Israel to work to minimize civilian casualties.

“Israel has a very difficult task: to eliminate Hamas, save the hostages, but also minimize civilian casualties, which is a difficult task but one that Israel must and does strive to live up to,” Schumer said. “We are not like the evil militants of Hamas. Israel is not. In America and in Israel, the countries must hold ourselves to a higher standard. It is part of who we are as democracies.”

More than 50 U.S. House Democrats wrote to Biden and Blinken last week to urge the administration to ensure that Israel “take all due measures to limit harm to innocent civilians” and address the humanitarian crisis.

“We strongly believe that Israel’s response must take into account the millions of innocent civilians in Gaza who themselves are victims of Hamas and are suffering the consequences of their terror campaign,” they wrote.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told Blinken that peace was not imminent.“This will be a long war,” he said, according to a transcript provided by the State Department. “The price will be high. But we are going to win for Israel and the Jewish people, and for the values that both countries believe in.”

Mary Ruth Thomas Collier

Mary Ruth Thomas Collier, age 95, of Gainesville, entered heaven Monday, October 16, 2023, at the Bell Minor Nursing Home.

Ruth was born September 15, 1928, in Gainesville to the late George & Bertha Gilmer Thomas. She formerly worked at New Holland Mill, Gibson Greetings, and was a member of Glory Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Lee Collier; son, Brent Collier; brothers, Rev. Willard Thomas & Rev. Edgar Thomas.

Left to cherish memories, daughter Elaine Campbell; granddaughters Mandy Vander Pol, Tara Williams, Brandy Brewington & Brianna Murray; a number of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews & other relatives also survive.

Services honoring Ruth will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at the Ward’s Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Randy Roys officiating. Burial will follow in New Holland Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time Wednesday at the funeral home.

You may sign the online guestbook or leave a condolence at www.wardsfh.com.

Ward’s Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Gainesville, is honored to serve the family of Mary Ruth Thomas Collier.

Jim Jordan gains support as vote nears for U.S. House speaker, but outcome still in doubt

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 16: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) leaves his office in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on October 16, 2023 in Washington, DC. Following the October 4 ousting of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as Speaker of the House, Republicans are expected to vote for his successor Tuesday and Jordan is campaigning for the top job. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

(GA Recorder) — U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan swayed several Republican opponents to his side Monday, moving the Ohio Republican closer to the speaker’s gavel ahead of a crucial Tuesday afternoon vote.

Jordan, who has been a polarizing figure in American politics for much of his time in Congress, will need the backing of nearly all the chamber’s 221 GOP lawmakers in order to hold the highest office in Congress, next in the presidential line of succession after the vice president.

The Ohio congressman and his allies seemed confident Monday evening that he would reach that benchmark after pressing members of the House GOP throughout the weekend, though they didn’t know if that would happen ahead of the first vote. Multiple votes could be held to elect a speaker, as happened in January when Kevin McCarthy won after 15 ballots.

Jordan said following a two-hour closed door conference meeting Monday night that the House must elect a speaker, in part, so the chamber can begin moving legislation again.

“I felt good walking into the conference. I feel even better now,” Jordan said. “We’ve got a few more people we want to talk to, listen to and then we’ll have the vote tomorrow.”

But some members complained of the pressure they faced. Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana wouldn’t say Monday night whether she would support Jordan.

“I truly believe we shouldn’t have concluded the conference and (should) deliberate further, not try to push people on the floor before we find consensus,” Spartz said. “I truly believe these intimidation techniques and tyranny are not acceptable.”

Jordan opponents

Several other Republicans said Monday after the meeting they are firmly opposed to Jordan becoming speaker, including Reps. Ken Buck of Colorado and Mario Díaz-Balart of Florida

Buck said he has concerns over Jordan’s votes to overturn the electoral results in Pennsylvania and Arizona following the 2020 presidential election.

“I do think that the 20 Republicans who are in Biden districts have a problem if everybody in leadership is saying that the election was stolen,” Buck said. “I think that’s a problem.”

Díaz-Balart said that he would not vote for Jordan and would instead vote for Louisiana’s Steve Scalise, because Scalise won the first nomination vote last week, and therefore the entire party should have voted for him. Scalise withdrew his nomination one day after winning the nomination.

Díaz-Balart also expressed frustration over pressure from his party to vote for Jordan.

“A little bit of advice if anybody is trying to get my vote,” Díaz-Balart said. “The last thing you want to do is try to pressure me because then I close out entirely.”

Greene defends Jordan

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Rome, Georgia, said she was not concerned about Republicans in districts that Biden won in the 2020 presidential election. She argued that Republican voters support Jordan.

“They couldn’t have won those seats without Republican voters,” she said. “They may be Biden districts, but they aren’t all Biden voters that voted for these Republican members of Congress and so they’re Republican voters; their opinions matter too, even if it’s a Biden district.”

Electing Jordan, a founder of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, would mark a significant turnaround from Friday when more than 50 House Republicans said during a secret ballot they wouldn’t vote for him on the floor.

Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee, however, estimated Monday evening that Jordan’s support deficit had shrunk to about eight.

When asked whether he was confident Jordan would reach the approximately 217 votes needed to win, Burchett said “I’m just confident I’m standing here.”

“It’s looking better of course,” Burchett added.

But Rep. Don Bacon said he wouldn’t support Jordan.

“I respect people with different opinions on this. We need a speaker, we got a world on fire. But I didn’t put us in this, a small group who took out Kevin (McCarthy) and blocked Steve (Scalise) got us in this spot,” the Nebraska Republican said.

Florida’s Rep. John Rutherford told reporters “nothing’s changed” for him and that he only wants to see McCarthy in the speaker’s role.

Jordan acknowledges frustrations

After a weekend of vote wrangling, Jordan urged support for his bid in a “Dear Colleague” letter released Monday where he acknowledged the “frustrations about the treatment of Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise and the events of the past month.”

“The role of a Speaker is to bring all Republicans together. That’s what I intend to do.” Jordan wrote.

“Our goal will be to empower our committees and committee chairs to take the lead on the House’s legislative work through regular order,” Jordan wrote. “This will bring us together to pass responsible legislation to fund our government and support our military.”

Jordan also said he would “tirelessly work to defend and expand our majority and help every Republican member back at home.”

House Freedom Caucus Chair Scott Perry, a Pennsylvania Republican, said Monday night that Jordan becoming speaker more than nine months into this Congress means he’ll inherit issues that were created earlier this year.

“There are going to be some legitimate questions about the plan.” Perry said. “But I think you’ve got to give him some time to try and be successful. I think that’s appropriate for anybody.”

Jordan picked behind closed doors

House Republicans voted Friday to nominate Jordan for speaker following a tumultuous week that highlighted several of the challenges facing the razor-thin House majority.

Louisiana’s Scalise was nominated for speaker first, but bowed out after just one day as the nominee. Jordan said after losing the first nomination vote that he would back Scalise, though several of his allies refused to support Scalise and a floor vote was never held.

House Republicans on the second ballot voted for Jordan as their nominee over Georgia Rep. Austin Scott, who announced his candidacy shortly before the vote.

After Jordan won the nomination, Republicans held a secret ballot vote to gauge how much support Jordan would receive on the floor. More than 50 Republican lawmakers were opposed to him taking on that role.

New support

By Monday, House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers and Missouri Rep. Ann Wagner, both of whom were opposed to Jordan becoming speaker last week, came around to supporting his bid for the gavel.

Rogers, of Alabama, wrote on X that he and Jordan “agreed on the need for Congress to pass a strong NDAA, appropriations to fund our government’s vital functions, and other important legislation like the Farm Bill.”

Wagner said in a written statement that Jordan had allayed her “concerns about keeping the government open with conservative funding, the need for strong border security, our need for consistent international support in times of war and unrest, as well as the need for stronger protections against the scourge of human trafficking and child exploitation.”

Florida Rep. Carlos Gimenez did not move to support Jordan, saying he planned to vote for McCarthy on the floor.

“I will not partake in this despicable coup,” Gimenez wrote on X. “Speaker McCarthy should have never been removed to begin with.”

Ashley Murray of States Newsroom contributed to this report