In a surprising turn of events, House Republicans have made the decision to remove Rep. Jim Jordan from the speaker's race, NBC News reported. The move comes after Jordan lost a vote of confidence during a closed-door meeting of Republicans, following his third consecutive defeat on the House floor this week.

During the internal secret-ballot vote, 86 Republicans expressed support for Jordan, while 112 voiced their desire to move on and select another candidate for the speaker position, according to lawmakers who attended the meeting. Jordan graciously accepted the outcome, stating his commitment to supporting the chosen speaker and working towards serving the American people.

This unexpected twist adds to the ongoing saga surrounding the GOP's search for a new speaker, throwing the chamber into further chaos. Rep. Austin Scott of Georgia, who had challenged Jordan for the position, announced that he will run again. Additionally, Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, who had previously contemplated a speaker run, has also launched his bid for the role.

Several other Republican representatives have officially thrown their hats into the ring. These include Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, Rep. Jack Bergman of Michigan, and Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, who was nominated for speaker by his conservative Freedom Caucus colleagues earlier in the year. Others, such as Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington, Small Business Chairman Roger Williams, and Rep. Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania, are reportedly considering entering the race.

Earlier on Friday, a group of entrenched GOP lawmakers, totaling 25, prevented Jordan from securing the speaker's gavel for the third time. With 194 votes received, Jordan fell 21 votes short of the required number to secure the speakership on the House floor. All 210 Democrats rallied behind Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

Jordan's failure to win over his detractors and the shift in support from three moderate members further indicated the challenging path ahead for his speaker bid. House Republican leaders expressed concerns about the division and paralysis within their party, acknowledging the pressing need for unity and effective governance.

Despite attempts by seven Republican representatives to reconcile with Jordan's supporters, offering to accept punishment if it would persuade others to back the Ohio representative, those opposed to Jordan showed no signs of relenting. Rep. Carlos Gimenez of Florida, a supporter of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, stated that there is nothing that would persuade him to change his vote to support Jordan.

With the GOP divided and in search of a unifying figure, the coming days will likely see further jostling and maneuvering as candidates vie for the coveted position of speaker and attempt to bring stability to the Republican Party.