House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, announced he is running for speaker — the first GOP lawmaker to put his hat in the ring for what’s sure to be a competitive race.
The House of Representatives is without an elected leader after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted by a small group of rebels within his own party.
Jordan said Wednesday morning that he would step up to run for the job. House Republicans plan to hold a candidate forum next Tuesday and an election the following day.
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He’ll likely have the support of conservatives and others in the right wing of the GOP conference, but it’s unclear if he can win the support of enough moderates.
To help broaden his support, Jordan will have the help of Rep. Mike Carey, R-Ohio, who Fox News Digital was told is whipping votes for Jordan among moderate Republicans and more mainstream conservatives.
Carey, like Jordan, is an ally of former President Donald Trump. But Carey is known much more for working with moderates and Democrats, particularly in the Ohio delegation.
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Other names that have been floated for the speaker’s gavel are Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.; Republican Study Committee Chair Kevin Hern, R-Okla.; and Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla.
Jordan is the leader of one of three House committees investigating President Biden and his family. That investigation culminated into an impeachment inquiry being led by the House Oversight Committee.
A faction of Republicans immediately jumped to support him, including Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., a McCarthy ally.
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“We face difficult challenges, but the choice is clear: We need Jim Jordan as our next speaker of the House,” Issa said.
He also appears to have the support of Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who moved to oust McCarthy in the first place.
“My mentor Jim Jordan would be great!” Gaetz posted on X, formerly Twitter, in response to a conservative who voted to keep McCarthy, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., calling Jordan his “first choice if he will run.”