In the race for the speakership of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Jim Jordan has made significant strides towards securing the position. Despite facing initial opposition from 55 Republicans, Jordan managed to reduce that number to just 20 by the time of the House vote. While he fell short of the 217 votes needed to win, his strategy is reminiscent of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's path to victory earlier this year.
McCarthy, who took 15 ballots to secure the speakership, may serve as an inspiration for Jordan.[0] However, it seems that Jordan may not need as many ballots to win over his opposition. Unlike the conservatives who revolted against McCarthy, the Republicans who voted against Jordan have shown a willingness to be persuaded or step aside if he nears the threshold of 217 votes.[0]
Despite the setback, Jordan remained calm during the roll call vote and huddled with his supporters, including McCarthy, to plan their next move. This is not the first time Jordan has pursued the position of House Speaker. In November 2018, he ran against Kevin McCarthy's successor, but was easily defeated. At that time, 55 members of the House Republican conference refused to back Jordan, making it clear that he would need to build stronger support.[0]
One of the major criticisms of Jordan stems from his involvement in Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. He was accused of organizing congressional opposition to counting Joe Biden's certified electoral votes and pushing false claims of election fraud. The House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol identified Jordan as a “significant player” in Trump's attempts to overturn the election.
Jordan's role in spreading misinformation about the election has been widely documented.[1] He repeatedly claimed that the election was stolen and supported investigations into alleged fraud. These actions have drawn criticism and led to accusations that he was instrumental in perpetuating the lie that the election was fraudulent.
Moreover, Jordan has faced allegations related to his time as a wrestling coach at Ohio State University. Former wrestlers have accused him of turning a blind eye to sexual abuse by a team doctor.[2] Jordan has vehemently denied these allegations, and no wrestler has accused him of committing sexual abuse himself.[3]
Despite these controversies, Jordan has remained a prominent figure within the Republican Party. He has been a vocal advocate for conservative policies and has gained support from those who appreciate his hardline stance. However, his bid for the speakership has faced opposition from within his own party, particularly from those who see him as too divisive or too closely aligned with Trump.
As the House Republicans continue to navigate the speakership race, the future remains uncertain.[4] Jordan's ability to secure the position will depend on his ability to win over more supporters and convince those who have opposed him to change their stance. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether Jordan can gather the necessary votes to become the next Speaker of the House.
0. “Jim Jordan Doesn't Have the Votes—Yet” The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2023, https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2023/10/jim-jordan-house-speaker-election-vote/675670/
1. “Election lies to Fox News fixture: key things to know about Jim Jordan” The Guardian US, 17 Oct. 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/17/jim-jordan-republican-speaker-election-denier-trump
2. “Democrats craft strategy to make GOP pay if Jim Jordan is speaker” NBC News, 17 Oct. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/democrats-craft-strategy-make-gop-pay-jim-jordan-speaker-rcna120720
3. “Everything we know: Jim Jordan and the Ohio State wrestling scandal” Business Insider, 17 Oct. 2023, https://www.businessinsider.com/what-happened-jim-jordan-ohio-state-wrestling-sex-abuse-scandal-2023-10
4. “Congress chaos: The dysfunction is so bad that a Democrat just suggested George W. Bush be the next House speaker …” Slate, 17 Oct. 2023, https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/10/jim-jordan-house-speaker-chaos-george-w-bush.html
