Jordan to run for House minority leader,
Local Congressman Jim Jordan announced Wednesday that he will run for minority leader, hours after winning a seventh term.
Jordan announced his decision on Hill.TV Wednesday morning. He declined making further comment Wednesday.
He’ll challenge Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the current House majority leader and a California Republican.
Jordan said on Hill.TV that he was running because Republicans have not followed through on the promises they made in 2016, including reforming welfare, replacing Obamacare and securing the border.
He said in 2016 “the American people elected Republicans to come here and change this town. I think the president is doing just that, but I don’t think they see the same intensity from folks in Congress, folks in the House of Representatives,” he said.
He said being the minority leader is “all about getting us in the majority so we can accomplish what they elected us to do.”
But others were skeptical of Jordan’s chances.
“These things are popularity contests and he’s not that popular,” said John Feehery, a Republican consultant in Washington and former House staffer of Jordan. “Members think he’s not in it for them but in it for himself.”
Feehery said he believed McCarthy has the votes to win.
Could Ohio Democrat challenge Pelosi?
Still in flux is Youngstown-area Democrat Tim Ryan, who said Wednesday he has not yet decided to repeat the challenge he made to former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in 2016, after Democrats suffered sweeping losses in a presidential year.
Instead, he said, he and other Democrats were “having a lot of conversations with newer members and really getting a feel for where they are and what they’re thinking about the future and what kind of leadership team they need in place.”
He said he many of the new members vowed not to back Pelosi during the campaign. He wants to make sure to “not put them in the position during their first vote to break the pledge they made.”
Would he challenge Pelosi again?
“I don’t have any intention right now of running but I haven’t ruled it out, either,” he said.
He said he will take on one new position with Democrats’ retaking the majority: He will be an appropriations subcommittee chairman, known colloquially as a cardinal.
Kyle Kondik of the University of Virginia said he doubted Pelosi would ultimately be vulnerable to a challenge, saying the Democratic gains in the House were too big.
“It’s hard to throw out the leadership when you have a substantial seat gain. I think Pelosi will be okay,” he said.