If Republicans lose their majority, ironically, Rep. Jim Jordan could finally win a job in leadership.
The speaker scramble started officially when the Ohio Republican and House Freedom Caucus chairman announced his bid for the gavel. Several analysts have dismissed his candidacy because, while Jordan is tenacious, Jordan is unpopular.
A reminder: Jordan will never be speaker. The conference doesn’t like him–at all–bc of HFC tactics. This is most likely about concessions… BUT he DID beat McCarthy to the punch. Why has McCarthy not done this? He’s quietly running. He should prob go public like this…
— Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) July 26, 2018
That paradigm changes the moment Republicans lose control of the lower chamber. Bracing for a second round of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the GOP caucus could warm to the prickly, compromise-averse conservative. Suddenly his history of obstruction becomes his best asset.
The common complaint about a potential Jordan speakership is that nothing would get done. The best pitch for Jordan is that, if he was minority leader, Democrats would get nothing done. After all, he is a skilled saboteur.
Ask John Boehner, R-Ohio, about that time Jordan ran him out of town. Ask Paul Ryan, R-Wis., about that time Jordan torpedoed one watered-down Obamacare repeal bill or about that other time Jordan torched a generally-conservative Farm Bill. Whenever a piece of compromise legislation goes up in smoke, more often than not the conservative saboteur can be found nearby holding the matches and pointing to Republican campaign promises.
It’s possible, of course, that Jordan has burned too many bridges to win minority leader, let alone speaker. Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., could simply revert to the roles of minority leader and minority whip. They could cut out Jordan and maintain the status quo.
That safe option loses some of its appeal when the GOP finds itself out of power. President Trump and House Republicans will want a bare-knuckled brawler to slow Democrats. They know they get that in Jordan. A loss in November could mean a big when for Jordan in the next Congress.
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