WASHINGTON — Billionaire Tom Steyer — whose left-leaning politics have earned him the ire of Rep. Jim Jordan — is now running ads against the Urbana Republican, according to a new report.

Politico says Steyer’s “Need to Impeach” PAC has targeted Jordan and Rep. Mark Meadows, R–N.C. in a week-long TV ad campaign. Both men are key defenders of President Donald Trump and are leaders of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.

Both lawmakers were highly visible during the House Oversight Committee’s hearing last week with Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and fixer.

According to Politico, the group is spending $75,000 in the two districts.

Jordan has repeatedly criticized Steyer for pressuring Democrats to impeach Trump and even called him out by name during last week’s hearing with Cohen. Specifically, he’s angry Steyer is holding town halls in the home districts of the Democratic chairs of the House Ways and Means, Oversight and Judiciary committees, and suggested last week that the Cohen hearing was triggered by Steyer.

The 30-second ad, features an announcer intoning that “When the history of the Trump presidency is written, members of Congress will be sorted into two categories: The ones who let politics scare them out of holding Trump accountable and those who had the courage to stand up and defend our democracy.” While he speaks, images of Jordan and Sen. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R–S.C., are featured. Later, the ad refers to those with the “courage to stand up.” During that part of the ad, the late Sen. John McCain’s face flashes on the screen.

“Which side of history do they want to be on?” the announcer concludes.

Jordan tweeted his response: "The citizens of OH-04 appreciate that President Trump is fighting for them and does what he says. There is zero evidence of any collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. TV commercials from @TomSteyer won’t change that."

The Sierra Club, meanwhile, has launched a 10–second statewide Facebook ad urging Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, to put forth a plan to act on climate change.

jwehrman@dispatch.com

@JessicaWehrman