Jim Jordan, the influential chair of the House Judiciary Committee, is reportedly preparing to launch a bid for a higher position within Republican leadership—a move that could spark a major rift within the GOP. According to recent reports, if the Republican Party loses its House majority in the upcoming elections, current House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) may find his leadership challenged, with Jordan topping the list of potential contenders for his role.
As Politico noted in a piece titled “The Bitter Leadership Rivalry That Could Split the House GOP — Again,” Jordan’s ambition could set him against current Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA). The article claims that “House Republicans believe the stalwart conservative isn’t done angling for a leadership spot,” despite opposition within the party.
Jordan, a well-known conservative figure and co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, has reportedly been making strategic moves, including campaigning for House members and writing checks to support their campaigns, even reaching out to centrists who previously opposed him.
Jordan’s efforts to build bridges, however, face obstacles. His last bid for the speakership in the fall, though brief, left some in the GOP wary. According to Politico, more than 120 Republicans privately rejected his candidacy in a closed-door meeting, with many blaming him and his allies for subsequent threats against their families.
Despite Jordan denouncing these tactics, the damage to his reputation within certain factions of the party was already done. Even with some of his previous opponents now supporting him, Jordan’s path to overtaking Scalise is likely to be fraught with challenges.
His allies admit that his leadership race “burned bridges” beyond those who publicly opposed him, and his connections to the far-right wing of the party have weakened. His relationship with the House Freedom Caucus has also become strained following the ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, with whom Jordan had forged a close working relationship.
The possibility of Jordan seeking a higher role within the GOP leadership has already sparked speculation about a potential civil war within the Republican Party. With the stakes high and internal divisions growing, Jordan’s next steps could determine the future direction of the House GOP, potentially splitting the party further as it navigates a turbulent political landscape.