by Robert Donachie
House Freedom Caucus co-founder Jim Jordan will formally announce his campaign for speaker of the House Thursday at noon, The Daily Caller News Foundation has learned.
TheDCNF confirmed the announcement with two sources with direct knowledge of Jordan’s plans.
Jordan has received an onslaught of support from conservative groups and his colleagues in the House Freedom Caucus to run for speaker. Until Thursday, he has not made an official statement as to whether or not he would consider a formal bid.
Jordan’s team did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
“There is no speaker’s race,” Jordan told TheDCNF in April. “If and when there is, my colleagues have urged me to consider it, and I’m open to that. The focus is not on who the speaker is; the focus is on what we do. The key is: We have got to get back to what the American people sent us here to do.”
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan announced he will not seek re-election in November, validating months of speculation around Washington the speaker was ready to hang up his hat after serving nearly two decades in Congress. Ryan made the decision to spend more time with his family so as not to be a “weekend” father, he told reporters.
Two of the top ranking House Republicans–House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana–are also angling for the position.
McCarthy failed to garner the 218 required votes to become speaker in 2015, but his particularly close relationship with President Donald Trump is expected to give him a potential upper hand over Scalise in the coming months. Scalise wouldn’t rule out a potential bid for Ryan’s job but is also adamant he would not run against McCarthy, who he considers a “good friend,” he said in March.
Both representatives are raising millions for the party and for midterm candidates, which give them solid footing as Republicans look to choose their next leader.
McCarthy said Wednesday that he wants to be the next speaker, urging conservatives to back him.
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