Ohio Republican Congressman Jim Jordan has announced that he will be running for the position of House Speaker after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the position on Tuesday in a history making vote. A spokesman representing Jordan confirmed the congressman’s plans.
Jordan made a comment after he came out of the speaker’s office saying, “I’ve had a lot of people reach out to us, asking me to do it, because I think we can. We’ll see if that happens, but I think I can.”
There have already been a number of Republicans who have voiced their support for Jordan as a candidate for the position, such as Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie who said Jordan was his first choice if he runs. Florida Republican lawmaker Matt Gaetz, who led the effort to remove McCarthy as speaker, stated he too would back Jordan for the position.
Jordan is currently serving as the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, where he has been heading up multiple investigations into the Biden administration this year, according to the Daily Wire.
“My mentor Jim Jordan would be great!” Gaetz stated.
“In a Wednesday letter to House colleagues, Jordan celebrated the successes during McCarthy’s nine months as speaker and stressed his ability to ‘unite’ the conference,” the report said.
“Now is the time for our Republican conference to come together to keep our promises to Americans,” Jordan went on to say in the letter. “We can focus on the changes that improve the country and unite us in offering real solutions. But no matter what we do, we must do it together as a conference.”
“I respectfully ask for your support for Speaker of the House of Representatives,” he finished.
Jordan made an appearance on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program on Tuesday evening where he was asked about rumors concerning the possibility of former President Donald Trump being contacted to serve as an “interim” speaker.
The congressman responded by saying that Trump would do a great job, but emphasized he is supporting Trump for president and wants to see him back in that position, not in the House of Representatives.
“The House voted 216-210 to remove McCarthy as speaker, a role he held since January. Eight Republicans joined with Democrats to vote against McCarthy, citing frustrations with his leadership: Gaetz, Andy Biggs (AZ), Ken Buck (CO), Eli Crane (AZ), Bob Good (VA), Matt Rosendale (MT), Tim Burchett (TN), and Nancy Mace (SC),” the Daily Wire said..
North Carolina Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry is now serving as a temporary speaker while the House gets its ducks in a row concerning who will eventually fill the role on a long term basis. Several reports have come out stating that House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican, might also be tossing his hat in the ring for consideration.
“Like every other candidate, big hurdles for [Jordan] to get to 218. But Scalise seems to have a bold-named challenger,” Punchbowl News co-founder Jake Sherman stated in a post published on X.