Jim Jordan may set off major GOP civil war with effort to become House Republican leader
Jim Jordan may be gearing up to launch a bid for a promotion that could set off a major civil war among Republicans.
Raw Story recently reported that, if the GOP loses its existing majority in the House of Representatives this fall, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) will very likely have fellow Republicans gunning for his job. Jordan is reported to be topping that list.
Jordan's reported ambitions would require him to challenge current Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), according to Politico.
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In an article entitled "The bitter leadership rivalry that could split the House GOP — again," the outlet reports that "House Republicans believe the stalwart conservative isn’t done angling for a leadership spot. But he still has dug-in opponents in the conference."
"House Republicans are seeing strong signals that Jim Jordan is looking to move to a more powerful perch in the party," Politico reports. "The current Judiciary Committee chair and conservative darling has been campaigning for House members — including some of the centrists who blocked his short-lived bid for the speakership last fall — at a level that has raised eyebrows inside and outside of House GOP leaders. He’s also written checks to multiple members for their campaigns, and he’s been doing check-ins with some who opposed him, efforts seen as a way to shore up his relationships."
While some Republicans who opposed Jordan's last effort to take over the speakership are now supporting him, the road to overtaking Scalise will not be an easy one. He also burned some bridges, according to Politico.
"Despite those inroads, Jordan allies warn that he burned bridges during the leadership race that go beyond those who publicly opposed his speakership bid. More than 120 Republicans privately bucked Jordan as their speaker nominee during a closed-door meeting last year," the report states. "While more voted for him when he forced three House floor votes, some of his detractors blamed him and his allies when they and their families received death threats. Some even faced primary challengers, inspired by their votes against Jordan. The Ohioan denounced those tactics, but the damage was done."
Other issues Jordan might face, according to the Politico report, involve a weakened alliance with the far-right of the conference.
"At times, he’s brushed off pressure from the right flank to engage in hardball investigative tactics. He’s also lost clout with some conservatives for his close relationship with McCarthy, who leaned on Jordan as a key ally after an initially fractious start to their relationship," the report states. "In fact, some Jordan allies suggest he felt deflated after the McCarthy ouster, which was embraced by multiple members of the House Freedom Caucus, a group he co-founded."