Rep. Jim Jordan James (Jim) Daniel JordanHouse panel pulls Powell into partisan battles over pandemic Sunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election House passes resolution condemning anti-Asian discrimination relating to coronavirus MORE (R-Ohio) is bowing out of the race for ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, his spokesman told The Hill.

Jordan was encouraged by fellow conservatives to run for the high-profile committee role amid expectations that Democrats will be issuing a slew of investigations into President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE and his administration next Congress.

“He won’t be seeking the position, it has been made clear to him that leadership is going to be selecting someone else,” said Jordan’s spokesman, Ian Fury.

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Questions of whether Jordan would officially throw his name and his energy into the contested race circled until the final day of when he would need to declare his interest in the role.

Leading up to this decision, Republican lawmakers cast doubt on whether Jordan has enough allies in the GOP conference to make it through the steering committee, a voting body largely controlled by Republican leadership.

Jordan, a leading voice in the conservative House Freedom Caucus, challenged House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyMcCarthy says there will be a peaceful transition if Biden wins GOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power McCarthy claims protests in Louisville, other cities are 'planned, orchestrated events' MORE (R-Calif.) for minority leader of the House Republican Conference — a move that may have further alienated his relations with members of the Republican Steering Committee and GOP leadership.

Some GOP lawmakers have privately questioned whether Jordan would be a thorn in leadership’s side if he were named the Judiciary Committee's attack dog.

Rep. Doug Collins Douglas (Doug) Allen CollinsTrump, Biden running neck-and-neck in Georgia: poll Trump, Biden tied in Georgia: poll Loeffler paints herself as 'more conservative than Attila the Hun' in new campaign ad MORE (R-Ga.), the vice chairman of the House Republican Conference, is currently seen as the front-runner in the race. Rep. Steve Chabot Steven (Steve) Joseph ChabotKate Schroder in Ohio among Democratic challengers squelching GOP hopes for the House Centrist Democrats 'strongly considering' discharge petition on GOP PPP bill Lawmakers call for expanded AI role in education, business to remain competitive MORE (R-Ohio) is also seeking the position.

There is a possibility that Jordan could change course and pursue the ranking member role of House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, where his close House ally Rep. Mark Meadows Mark Randall MeadowsAnxious Democrats amp up pressure for vote on COVID-19 aid Pelosi hopeful COVID-19 relief talks resume 'soon' The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November MORE (R-N.C.) is currently running uncontested.

Jordan is the senior GOP member of Oversight returning to the next Congress and is active on both panels, including their joint investigation into FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) decision-making during the 2016 presidential election. Meadows has been deeply involved in the probe as well.

Some congressional sources believe the amiable Meadows might have a better shot of winning the post in a contest with Jordan, however. They say Meadows is well-liked among the GOP conference.

It is unclear whether Meadows would defer to Jordan for the ranking member position of Oversight.