House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told The Post Saturday that only he can unite the fractious House Republican conference as they prepare to vote for a new speaker next week.
“I feel the momentum,” he said in the wake of the chaos that unfolded when Republicans led by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz ousted California Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker after only nine months on the job.
Conservative firebrand Jordan, 59, quickly threw his hat into the ring to replace McCarthy — and said he has a broad coalition backing him.
“We have people from the chairman of the Freedom Caucus to people in the middle, and people who might be called more moderate,” Jordan said, declining to disclose how many of his colleagues’s votes he has secured.
Jordan is locked in a struggle for the job with McCarthy’s deputy, House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan told The Post Saturday that only he can unite the fractious House Republican conference.
AP
A third candidate, Rep. Kevin Hern, the influential boss of the House Republican Study Committee, is also seeking the gavel.
Jordan was deferential when asked to explain why his colleagues should back him.
“Steve Scalise is a friend and a great American and an American hero. I have nothing but respect for Steve,” he said.
House GOP Conference Chairwoman Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) helped House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise win.
REUTERS
But, he continued, “I am the right guy for the job.”
Jordan’s candidacy received a boost from former President Donald Trump, who endorsed him after passing on a run for the job himself.
Jordan has also received the backing of a clutch of powerful house lawmakers including House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, (R-Tenn) and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, (R-Ohio). Gaetz is also behind him.
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On Friday Rep. Virginia Foxx,(R-NC), the chairwoman of the House Education Committee, also said she would back Jordan.
Jordan also picked up the dubious support of truth-challenged Rep. George Santos (R-Long Island).
Scalise is not without his own influential friends and has won the backing of House GOP Conference Chairwoman Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY).
Jordan said would be keen to see the current motion-to-vacate rule, which allows a single member to force a vote of no confidence in the speaker — to be changed.
“The [Republican] conference is strongly for changing that. I support the conference,” Jordan said. It’s unclear whether GOP hardliners feel the same way. Jordan said he would be prepared to serve under the current rules as well “If that’s what it comes to.”
On Monday Scalise, Jordan and Hern will sit for a joint interview on Fox News.
On Tuesday House Republicans will meet for a closed forum during which leadership candidates will be able to make their cases.
The formal speaker vote is expected on Wednesday.
Jordan, 59, quickly threw his hat into the ring to replace McCarthy — and said he has a broad coalition backing him.AP
McCarthy was ousted after collaborating with Democrats to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government, avoiding a shutdown in the 11th hour.
Gaetz and other hard-liners had insisted on deeper spending cuts. Jordan voted against the final compromise.
“[McCarthy] was left in a tough situation,” Jordan said of the issue. “I think it’s unfortunate. I disagreed with it. I thought were we actually doing what we had told the voters what we were going to do.”
Jordan’s candidacy received a boost from former President Donald Trump, who endorsed him after passing on a run for the job himself. REUTERS
The funding deal which proved McCarthy’s undoing was only a stopgap measure to keep the government running until Nov. 17 and one of the new speaker’s first early tests will be navigating the same treacherous straits.
Jordan was cagey about whether he would be prepared to work with Democrats — as McCarthy did.
“I want to avoid that situation as we go forward,” he said.
Source link: https://nypost.com/2023/10/07/jim-jordan-says-only-he-can-unite-republican-conference/