Representative Jim Jordan, a prominent critic of President Joe Biden, has announced his candidacy for Speaker of the House of Representatives, becoming the first Republican to do so after Kevin McCarthy’s removal. The race for the position is expected to be contentious, with Steve Scalise and other candidates also vying for the role. Republican lawmakers have identified Scalise and Jordan as the leading contenders. McCarthy’s removal was unprecedented and marked the first time the chamber has ousted its leader in a position second only to the vice president. Republicans have scheduled a vote on October 11 to choose McCarthy’s successor.
Jordan, known for his combative conservative stance and investigations of the Biden administration, is the first to publicly express interest in the Speaker position. In a letter to fellow Republicans, he highlighted his role in a bill focused on immigration reform and emphasized the need for unity within the party. Jordan, a former college wrestler from Ohio, has gained prominence as a leader of the party’s right wing and is a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump. He is currently involved in the impeachment investigation into Biden and has clashed with state prosecutors over cases involving Trump.
Other potential candidates for Speaker include Scalise, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, and Representative Kevin Hern, who leads a policy group for conservative lawmakers. Representative Patrick McHenry is temporarily serving as Speaker following McCarthy’s removal.
The leadership battle for Speaker is causing delays in important legislative tasks, such as extending government spending and updating farm-subsidy and nutrition programs. It may also complicate the party’s impeachment inquiry into Biden and efforts to provide aid to Ukraine.
The role of Speaker has proven challenging for Republicans in recent years, with both Paul Ryan and John Boehner facing difficulties in their tenure. McCarthy’s leadership was further complicated by his agreement to change House rules, allowing any member of Congress to call for the Speaker’s removal. The entire House, including both Republicans and Democrats, will vote for the new Speaker, who will hold the position until early January 2025. Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is expected to run against any Republican nominee.
Congress is currently struggling to fund the government for the fiscal year, and a partial government shutdown was narrowly avoided. McCarthy relied on Democratic votes to pass a stopgap spending bill, which angered hard-right Republicans like Matt Gaetz.
The article was written by David Morgan, Moira Warburton, and Richard Cowan, with contributions from Andy Sullivan. It was edited by Scott Malone, Cynthia Osterman, and Howard Goller. The article adheres to the Thomson RushHourDaily Trust Principles.
