U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) Monday appeared to end speculation on how he would vote in the upcoming election for Speaker of the House.
In a series of posts on the social media platform X, Rogers said he will vote for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).
“Jim Jordan and I have had two cordial, thoughtful, and productive conversations over the past two days,” Rogers stated.
“We agreed on the need for Congress to pass a strong NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act), appropriations to fund our government’s vital functions, and other important legislation like the Farm Bill. As a result, I have decided to support Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House on the floor.”
Rogers continued, “Since I was first elected to the House, I have always been a team player and supported what the majority of the Republican Conference agrees to. Together, our Republican majority will be stronger to fight Joe Biden’s reckless agenda for America.”
Jordan needs at least 217 votes to secure the gavel.
The Ohio Republican, in a post thanked Rogers, the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
In a secret ballot Friday, 55 Republicans said that they would not vote for Jordan on the floor, even after he became the speaker-designate in a 124-81 vote over Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., a last-minute entry into the race, according to Roll Call.
Sources close to Rogers said the endorsement came after several conversations over the past week, including a long one on Sunday between Rogers and Jordan.
Over the weekend, it appeared Rogers was reaching out to Democrats in anger over the eight Republicans who helped oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Earlier, Rogers said “there was nothing that Jordan could do to get his support as Speaker of the House,” according to The Anniston Star.
Rogers left a closed-door caucus session Friday and said Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (R-NY) should state concessions needed to help the GOP.
“They put us in this ditch along with eight traitors,” Rogers told Capitol Hill reporters. “We’re still the majority party, we’re willing to work with them but they gotta tell us what they need.”
In January, Rogers had to be held back by one of his colleagues after confronting Rep. Matt Gaetz during the contentious 14th vote before McCarthy was elected House speaker.
Rogers later tweeted an apology to Gaetz.
“I was just exasperated that Matt [Gaetz] was treating [Kevin] McCarthy so badly,” Rogers told The New York Post.
