In the race for the Republican House Speaker, Representative Jim Jordan has been making an active case for the role, hoping to rally moderate Republicans behind his leadership. While the Ohio lawmaker has a well-developed conservative standpoint, he has presented himself as a voice of unity and bipartisanship that many moderates believe they need in order to have their voices heard in Washington.
Jordan, who has been serving in Congress for over a decade and as a Deputy Minority Whip during the last three, has presented himself as a strong negotiator and a bridge between the moderate and far-right wings of the party. His campaign strategy has focused on the development of a platform that preserves the conservative fiscal principles while also making compromises to ensure the unity of the party and the risk of losing moderate support.
Jordan emphasizes that, if elected, he will make sure to reach across the aisle and work with Democrats to get things done. The current Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, has levied criticism on the strategy, stating that working with Democrats is the wrong approach to majority control. In response, Jordan has proposed a “unified approach” that allows Republicans to reap the benefits of cooperation without succumbing to extreme compromises.
Jordan has also presented his candidacy in terms of his experience. As Deputy Minority Whip, he has been deeply involved in Republican decision-making and policy-making, and he is seen as well-versed in the congressional machinations of politics. His followers also point to his extensive legislative record, underlining that he is an active speaker who is familiar with a wide range of complex issues.
While the race for the House Speaker is still developing, Jordan has made a strong case for himself. Moderate Republicans are looking for a leader who recognizes the need for bipartisanship while still maintaining the important fiscal principles of the Republican party. Jordan has presented himself as the right man for the job, and his candidacy looks increasingly strong as the weeks go by.