Ferguson swaps support on Speaker of House vote, said he has received death threats

Published 7:46 pm Thursday, October 19, 2023

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U.S. Congressman Drew Ferguson (GA-03) released a statement on Thursday indicating that he is switching his support for Speaker of the House from Congressman Jim Jordan and indicated he and his family have received death threats over the Speaker vote.

The Georgia congressman and former mayor of West Point is now throwing his support to Steve Scalise.

“As the Republican Conference designee, I supported Congressman Jordan on the first ballot. Following the first vote, I had genuine concerns about the threatening tactics and pressure campaigns Jordan and his allies were using to leverage members for their votes,” Ferguson said in a press statement.

“I discussed this directly with Jim and planned to support him on the second ballot. When the pressure campaigns and attacks on fellow members ramped up, it became clear to me that the House Republican Conference does not need a bully as the Speaker,” Ferguson said. “I cast my vote for Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a principled conservative and unifying leader.”

“Shortly after casting that vote, my family and I started receiving death threats. That is simply unacceptable, unforgivable and will never be tolerated,” he said.

Rep. Jordan failed to win the speaker’s seat again during the second vote on Wednesday. Jordan told GOP colleagues Thursday he is still running for the House gavel.