Jim Jordan loses first vote to become House speaker

Jim Jordan was not successful in the first ballot (Alex Brandon/AP)

Republicans have rejected representative Jim Jordan for House speaker on the first ballot, as holdouts denied the hard-charging ally of Donald Trump the majority needed to seize the gavel.

More voting is expected as Mr Jordan works to shore up support to replace the ousted Kevin McCarthy for the job and the leader of the Republican Party’s hard-right flank moves to take a central seat of US power.