Jim Jordan Announces Bid for Speaker of the House

Congressman Jim Jordan, R-Oh., announced on Thursday he is running for Speaker of the House of Representatives. Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., announced he would retire and was expected to be replaced by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., a moderate and more establishment member of leadership.

“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,” he said in a statement. “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.”

Along with other members of the more base-loved and conservative House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Jordan has been an advocate and ally of President Donald Trump. It’s unclear whether the president will insert himself into the battle for top dog in the lower chamber.

Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, took to Twitter to give Rep. Jordan his full support.

“Jim Jordan is one of the most principled men I’ve met in Washington,” Mr. Meadows tweeted. “Jim is a fighter, a leader, and a true conservative who always remembers the most critical voice—the voice of the voters—in every decision he makes.”

The announcement comes just one day after Rep. Jordan and Chairman Meadows introduced articles of impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. However, Mr. Meadows appeared to soften his position on impeachment after what he called “very good conversations with the leadership team [and] with Chairman Goodlatte [of the House Judiciary Committee], on a path forward.”

Nevertheless, Rep. Jordan delivered a speech last May that many believed served as an introduction to his vision for the country. It led to widespread speculation about his intentions to run for Speaker of the House.