WASHINGTON (NEWSnet/AP) — Despite deepening opposition, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan is expected to try a third vote to become House speaker.

“I’m still running for speaker and I plan to go to the floor and get the votes and win this race,” said Jordan, a founder of the far-right House Freedom Caucus.

The House is scheduled to convene Friday, but Republicans have no realistic or workable plan to unite the fractured GOP majority, elect a new speaker and return to the work of Congress that has been languishing since hardliners ousted Kevin McCarthy at the start of the month.

Jordan has scheduled an early morning press conference ahead of the session.

After two failed votes, Jordan's third attempt at the gavel is not expected to end any better. In fact, Friday is likely to produce an even worse final tally because more centrist rank-and-file Republicans are rejecting hardball tactics being used to seek their votes. 

It’s been more than two weeks into the stalemate that has shuttered the U.S. House, leaving that chamber unable to take formal action during a time of challenges at home and abroad.

While the entire House votes on the speaker, the Democrats have backed their own leader, Hakeem Jeffries on every vote this session. That means nearly all Republicans need to unite around one of their own to finish the stalemate.

In the meantime, an extraordinary idea to give the interim speaker pro tempore, Rep. Patrick McHenry, more powers for the next several months to at least bring the House back into session and conduct crucial business was swiftly rejected by Jordan's allies.

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