Convenience Big Store: These Texas Republicans helped sink Jim Jordan on Tuesday

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Three Texas Republicans contribute to ongoing House speaker chaos

Lately, climbing into the speaker's chair of the United States House of Representatives has seemed about as difficult as bull riding, and it's about as hard to stay in it.

On Tuesday a trio of Texas Republicans helped sink the Trump-supported Rep. Jim Jordan's bid for the speaker's chair in an initial round of voting, joining 17 other members of the GOP.

U.S. Reps. Tony Gonzales of San Antonio, Kay Granger of Fort Worth and Jake Ellzey of Midlothian all cast votes against Jordan in the first House floor vote since Kevin McCarthy was ousted nearly two full weeks ago. None of the Texans responded to requests for comment on their opposition to Jordan, and all had been quiet about how they planned to vote heading into Tuesday's floor action.

The Republican caucus that currently makes up a (thin) majority of the U.S. House has been perhaps the most chaotic House majority in American history, as Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California first needed 15 rounds of voting before he was elected speaker — the most since before the Civil War. He was then ousted from the chair by a small number of his fellow Republicans, a first in American history.

Then, the GOP voted that Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana would be their new speaker candidate, but that didn't even make it to the floor before he realized he didn't have the votes.

Now, it's Jordan's turn.

He was thrown today, but he'll open the gate and try again on Wednesday.

Edward McKinley, state government reporter

edward.mckinley@houstonchronicle.com

Who's up, who's down

Up: A border wall, slowly.

Republican state lawmakers are preparing to spend another $1.5 billion to continue building a wall along Texas' southern border, a project that has progressed at a sluggish pace with costs that have run well over $20 million per mile.

Down: The City of San Antonio's "Reproductive Justice Fund."

Under the state's near-total abortion ban, two anti-abortion groups and others have sued San Antonio over the City Council's decision to allocate $500,000 to launch a fund that could be used, in part, to help residents access abortions out of state.

What do you think? Hit reply and let me know.

What else is going on in Texas

Nick Ramos, 33, gets a Covid-19 vaccination from Nurse Mary Calderon at a pop-up clinic at the San Antonio Zoo on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. The zoo partnered with San Antonio Metropolitan Health District to provide the public with COVID-19 vaccinations. As an incentive, the zoo gave free tickets to their Dragon Forest exhibit to everyone who received the vaccine during the event.

Photo by: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer

Ban on COVID vaccine mandates by businesses passes Texas Senate

The bill offers no exceptions for health care facilities, but senators agreed to allow those entities to require unvaccinated employees to wear personal protective gear.

A jogger passes power lines in San Antonio in August, when record-high temperatures were a daily test for the state power grid.

Photo by: Eric Gay/Associated Press

Under fire from ERCOT, independent monitor sticks to her guns

In its monthly meeting Tuesday, the state grid operator's board offered updates on a plan to increase generation it needs to get through the winter.

Cruise autonmous taxis are now available in certain parts of Houston.

Photo by: Mason Bleasdell

GM's self-driving vehicles under investigation after injuries reported

The self-driving Cruise vehicles that launched in Houston just last week are under investigation by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

Houston City Hall is shown Friday, March 20, 2020.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff Photographer

City Council candidates miss campaign finance reports deadline

Fourteen candidates missed an Oct. 10 deadline to file the first of two pre-election campaign finance reports.

Pick of the day

Texas Rangers Leody Taveras, right, gets a high-five from Marcus Semien after hitting a solo home run off Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander in the fifth inning of Game 1 during the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in Houston.

Photo by: Staff photographer

Fun fact about me: I am a rabid baseball fan. Since I'm filling in for Jeremy Wallace this week while he's on vacation, and Texas' two MLB teams are playing one another, we'll be mixing in some sports coverage with our daily dose of politics. I'm hoping you all will greet this development "With Arms Wide Open."

What else I'm reading

In one of the best pieces of journalism I can remember reading in some time, check out this New York Times article on Minnesota's parole process, where the governor, attorney general and state Supreme Court chief justice exercise the godlike power of forgiveness, or not, over desperate applicants.