NEWS — JIM JORDAN will not hold a third ballot for speaker. He will back PATRICK MCHENRY as an interim speaker until JANUARY.

MCCARTHY, MCHENRY, JORDAN, COLE and EMMER met this morning

We reported this this AM in @PunchbowlNews AM.

CONFERENCE STARTING NOW.

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 19, 2023

[The McHenry Option cometh, if so. Democrats will likely cooperate with that; Jeffries hinted as much yesterday as well as today. Axios had reported this morning that the threats and intimidation coming from Jordan’s supporters had alienated more Republicans and that a third vote would prove embarrassing for Jordan. It looks as though Jordan got the message. This will give him some time to cool the temperature and see whether he can find votes in a couple of months, more quietly. However, see below — this may not be a set path yet. — Ed]

McHenry: “My goal is to get Jim Jordan elected Speaker. He’s our Speaker nominee.” Does not say if there will be a third Speaker vote today

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 19, 2023