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Jim Jordan’s Hostile Takeover

The hardliner Boehner once called a “legislative terrorist” is mounting an unprecedented campaign to whip Republican votes. But does he have the numbers? And could taking the speakership cost him the House?

Jim Jordan, a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, was long considered a bomb-thrower rather than a dealmaker by his colleagues.
Jim Jordan, a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, was long considered a bomb-thrower rather than a dealmaker by his colleagues. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Abby Livingston
October 16, 2023

The wall of Republicans who opposed Jim Jordan for House Speaker last week, when 55 members voted against him, is crumbling as Jordan mounts an extraordinary pressure campaign ahead of a full floor vote as early as Tuesday. Jordan, a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, was long considered a bomb-thrower rather than a dealmaker by his colleagues, including former Speaker John Boehner, who once described him as a “legislative terrorist.” But he has the endorsement of Donald Trump and, perhaps most importantly, essentially no competition for the job after Steve Scalise bowed out.