Rep. Jim Jordan, Freedom Caucus co-founder, is exploring run for House speaker

Source: The Washington Post




By Mike DeBonis April 13 at 8:55 AM

Rep. Jim Jordan, a prominent and polarizing conservative leader, is strongly considering a run for House speaker in a bid that could upend the race to succeed Paul D. Ryan.

Two Republican lawmakers said they had spoken with Jordan (R-Ohio) since Ryan announced his retirement Wednesday, and both said that they got the impression that Jordan would enter the race to lead the House GOP. The lawmakers spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations.

Jordan, 54, is a former champion college wrestler who co-founded the House Freedom Caucus, a hard-line faction of about three dozen conservative lawmakers that could play a kingmaker role in any leadership race to come. Its members have been highly critical of the GOP leadership, especially after last month’s vote to pass a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill.

Should Jordan enter the leadership derby, it would immediately scramble a race that till now was shaping up to be a duel between House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.).

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/rep-jim-jordan-freedom-caucus-co-founder-is-exploring-run-for-house-speaker/2018/04/13/1052511c-3f11-11e8-974f-aacd97698cef_story.html?utm_term=.fe2fa947aa9f