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Washington — Rep. Jim Jordan failed Wednesday on the second ballot to secure enough votes to become House speaker, leaving the lower chamber without a leader as Republicans' path forward remained unclear.

All total, 22 Republicans voted against Jordan, who garnered a total of 199 votes. Four more Republicans voted against him compared to Tuesday's first ballot. He picked up two Republicans, Reps. Doug LaMalfa of California and Victoria Spartz of Virginia.

Some Republicans — including three former Republican House speakers — on Wednesday indicated they want the lower chamber to vote to elevate the authority of Rep. Patrick McHenry, the speaker pro tempore. One key Republican source texted CBS News after the vote that "all roads lead to McHenry."

Any effort to empower McHenry would likely require support from Democrats, with some saying they favor a vote to expand his authority to allow for consideration of a limited legislative agenda. House Democrats on Wednesday unanimously voted for their leader, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and would likely seek concessions in any agreement to back McHenry.

For his part, Jordan vowed to remain in the race despite his disappointing showing in the second round. The House is adjourned until noon on Thursday.

4:33 PM / OCTOBER 18, 2023

GOP holdouts call for House to return immediately for another vote

Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson, who backed Scalise on the two ballots for speaker, sent a letter to McHenry requesting the House "return immediately" for a third round of voting.

The House has been in recess since earlier Wednesday, when Jordan failed to secure the necessary votes to win the gavel.

Simpson's request was backed by Florida Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, also a Scalise supporter, who shared the letter on social media and wrote "It's time to vote."

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4:32 PM / OCTOBER 18, 2023

Pelosi: Rejection of Jordan is "a triumph for democracy"

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries holds hands with Rep. Nancy Pelosi as the House holds its second round of voting for a new speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 18, 2023.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries holds hands with Rep. Nancy Pelosi as the House holds its second round of voting for a new speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 18, 2023. ANNA MONEYMAKER / GETTY IMAGES

Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker who now holds the title speaker emerita, called Jordan an "insurrectionist" and said the vote against him was a "triumph."

"I think it's a triumph for democracy in our country that an insurrectionist was rejected by the Republicans again as their candidate for speaker," Pelosi said at the Capitol. "We've always wished the winning party well as they choose their leader."

Pelosi, who stepped aside as Democratic leader when Republicans took control of the House after last year's elections, said both parties have "always respected each other's judgment" when it came to selecting a House speaker. "But today and yesterday, that was an assault on our democracy, as Jim Jordan assaulted our democracy on Jan. 6," she said.

Jordan is one of former President Donald Trump's staunchest defenders in Congress, and the House Jan. 6 committee portrayed him as a "significant player" in Trump's efforts to reverse the 2020 election results.

"He participated in numerous post-election meetings in which senior White House officials, Rudolph Giuliani, and others, discussed strategies for challenging the election, chief among them claims that the election had been tainted by fraud," the committee wrote in its final report.

3:50 PM / OCTOBER 18, 2023

Jordan doesn't expect another vote Wednesday

Jordan told reporters that he does not expect the House to hold another vote for speaker on Wednesday.

It's not clear when the next vote will take place, as House Republicans continue to deliberate. Nicole Killion

October 18, 2023 / 14:26

Jordan vows to stay in race despite loss in runoff election

Jordan told reporters after the vote that he still plans to run for the chairmanship and will continue to communicate with members of his party.