WASHINGTON, D. C. - As Republicans licked their wounds after losing control of the U.S. House of Representatives in Tuesday's election, Ohio's Jim Jordan kicked off Wednesday morning by announcing a run for House Republican Leader.

Jordan, a co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus who has repeatedly criticized current GOP leaders for failing to make good on their campaign promises, says he will challenge current House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of California for the job.

"The president was elected in 2016 to come here and change this place," Jordan said. "I don't think Congress has shown the same kind of intensity to reform and change the way this town does business. For us to get back in the majority, we need to do what we said and what we were elected to do in 2016."

Jordan said that Democrats will use control of Congress to "investigate the President and the White House nonstop," and Republicans will need someone in charge of the House of Representatives "who has proved they are willing to fight and stand up and do the things we told the voters we would fight for."

Jordan said he will spend the week until the GOP leadership elections talking to his colleagues about what it will take to get back in the majority.

"Rep. Jim Jordan on Democrats vs. Trump"https://t.co/SrcHJJ12vg — Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) November 7, 2018

"First, we have to lay out the policy objectives and the changes we think are best for the country in a compelling way," he said. "We have to oppose Democrats when they do things we think don't fit with that. We also have to be willing to aggressively push back when they are doing all the investigations they are talking about."

Although Jordan is likely to win support from many in the House Freedom Caucus, which he co-founded, other Republicans in the House of Representatives view his faction as obstructionists who block compromises that could become law. Retiring House Speaker Paul Ryan has endorsed McCarthy to be his successor.

A McCarthy spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Jordan's announcement.

Jordan has backing of several conservative groups including FreedomWorks, which released a statement that blamed "establishment Republican leadership" for losing House of Representatives control.

FreedomWorks president Adam Brandon said his organization and others that support Jordan will reach out to Republican members of Congress as they return to Washington to tout Jordan as a "fighter" who will stand toe-to-toe with Democratic committee chairs who will be issuing subpoenas to the Trump administration, such as California's Maxine Waters.

But he acknowledged that Jordan's bid is "a longshot" because it is far easier for Congress members to go with the status quo.

"I would rather have a fighter in there," said Brandon, a Brecksville native.

When asked about the leadership race on Wednesday, Holmes County GOP Rep. Bob Gibbs said he believes Jordan would be a good minority leader, but he wants to see who else runs before committing to any candidate.

"I want to wait to see how things shake out," said Gibbs.

Bainbridge Township GOP Rep. Dave Joyce says that in many ways, Jordan would be "the worst nightmare" for likely Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but said he doubts Jordan will be able to muster enough votes to win as some Republicans have been frustrated by the Freedom Caucus' refusal to cooperate with party leaders on some high profile votes.

"Kevin has gone out of his way to help out just about all of the members, Jim included," Joyce noted.