Freedom Caucus' Jordan considering challenging McCarthy for speaker after Ryan retirement

Eliza Collins | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Hardline conservative Jim Jordan is open to a run for speaker, a move that would complicate the race to replace House Speaker Paul Ryan.

“I’ve had colleagues encourage me to consider that and I’m open to that,” Jordan, the former chair of the House Freedom Caucus, told USA TODAY Friday morning. The Ohio Republican was on his way to a meeting with the roughly three-dozen member group but would not share details about what he planned to discuss.

Jordan said that at this moment there was no race to replace Ryan, as the Wisconsin Republican would remain speaker through the end of the session, and Jordan was focused on keeping conservative campaign promises, such as welfare reform.

“The most important thing over the next six months is doing the right thing so we keep the majority,” he said. House Republicans face an uphill battle to hold onto their majority with Democratic enthusiasm growing as more and more Republicans announce they will not seek re-election.

Ryan announced Wednesday he would retire at the end of the year. While the speaker said he intends to remain in the post through the November midterm election, the decision has forced a conversation about who will replace him.

It is unlikely that Jordan could get enough votes to win the speakership himself, but he could get the support of dozens of his hardline colleagues which would make winning the speakership more difficult for other, more establishment candidates.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the majority leader from California, is the frontrunner for the job right now. However, if Republicans are to retain their majority in November, McCarthy can’t afford to lose the dozens of hardline Republicans in the House Freedom Caucus.

In order to be elected speaker, the candidate must get votes from the majority of the House. Currently, Republicans can lose 19 votes and still get to the required 218 but if they lose seats in November that number will shrink.

GOP Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., is also being discussed as a potential replacement for Ryan though he has said he would not run against McCarthy, who he is close with. If Scalise were to decide to run he could be a more acceptable choice to conservatives who had doubts about McCarthy the last time he ran for speaker.

The Washington Post first reported that Jordan was telling his colleagues he was considering a run.