Rep. Jim Jordan is expected to announce he is officially making a bid to replace outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan, defying the GOP establishment’s apparent support for Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Jordan confirmed to Fox News on Thursday that that he will be making his run official.
“Should the American people entrust us with the majority again in the 116th Congress, I plan to run for Speaker of the House to bring real change to the House of Representatives,” Jordan said in a statement to Fox News.
Jordan added, “President Trump has taken bold action on behalf of the American people. Congress has not held up its end of the deal, but we can change that. It’s time to do what we said.”
HERE is page 1 of Jim Jordan’s “dear colleagues” letter declaring an official bid for speaker. Page 2 coming soon …. pic.twitter.com/xr9sLULMWi
— Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) July 26, 2018
While McCarthy remains the top contender for the post, Jordan could rally enough support to block the California Republican who sought the speakership in 2015 but withdrew after being unable to garner the votes from the House Freedom Caucus.
McCarthy said on Wednesday that he also plans to make a run for speaker of the House.
“I do not want to see Nancy [Pelosi] to come back as speaker,” McCarthy said at the Turning Point USA conference, according to Fox. “I want the next speaker to come from California, but I don’t want it to be Nancy. I want it to be me.”
Jordan, an Ohio Republican and Freedom Caucus founder may be a long-shot in the bid for the 218 votes needed, but his running, at the least, creates a challenge to any other contenders and sets himself up for some leverage for other leadership positions.
The former wrestling champion has had to fight back against attacks stemming from a controversy in which he has been accused of ignoring alleged sexual abuse when he was a coach at Ohio State University.
Jordan has denied the allegations and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz slammed the controversy over the timing and motivation, calling out the ‘deep state’ for being behind the all-out assault.
Former wrestling coaches come out in support of Jim Jordan Conservative News Today https://t.co/ilywAT6Fra
— Jack Furnari (@JackBPR) July 10, 2018
Calling his colleague “a man of integrity” in an interview on Fox Business earlier this month, Gaetz found the timing of the accusations suspicious, as they surfaced right after Jordan confronted Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in a hearing, questioning the Department of Justice’s stonewalling over congressional requests for documents related to the Russia probe and the investigation of Hillary Clinton’s private email server.
Jordan will have an uphill battle on many fronts, including alleged censorship from social media giants.
Shocking revelations that Twitter continues to shadow-ban conservatives such as @Jim_Jordan and @mattgaetz may well constitute FEC violations. I'm calling on Congress to convene hearings with Twitter executives to fully investigate these sleazy and underhanded acts of censorship.
— Brent Bozell (@BrentBozell) July 26, 2018
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana is also reportedly eyeing the position.
Speaker Paul Ryan announced in April that he would not seek re-election and will retire from Congress after this year.
Jordan’s official announcement had Dems and the liberal media out for blood:
Um…..Given the cloud around him, it would seem to me that Jim Jordan running for House Speaker is a ridiculous quest. Then again, I don't live on Earth 2.
— Jonathan Capehart (@CapehartJ) July 26, 2018
REPORTER: How do you think the OSU investigation and allegations impact your run for Speaker?@Jim_Jordan: "Everyone can see through that story. I've talked to numerous of my colleagues, & they can all see through that story." pic.twitter.com/XVJhCjTKQy
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 26, 2018
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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