Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan announces bid for U.S. House speaker after Kevin McCarthy ouster

It's official: Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan is running to be the next speaker of the U.S. House.

"We are at a critical crossroad in our nation's history," Jordan wrote in a letter to House Republicans on Wednesday. "Now is the time for our Republican conference to come together to keep our promises to Americans. The problems we face are challenging, but they are not insurmountable. We can focus on the changes that improve the country and unite us in offering real solutions."

He concluded: "I respectfully ask for your support for Speaker of the House of Representatives."

More: 'Institution fell today.' McCarthy ousted as speaker by right-wing rebellion: 5 takeaways

House Republicans are searching for a new leader after eight of them joined Democrats on Tuesday to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. McCarthy brokered a deal with Democrats to avoid a shutdown and fund the federal government for 45 days, prompting Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to push for the historic vote.

Jordan and Ohio's other GOP representatives rallied around McCarthy, while Democrats in the delegation opted to remove him.

Jordan, a founder of the House Freedom Caucus, has represented Ohio's 4th Congressional District since 2007. He's a top ally of former President Donald Trump and has cultivated national popularity as a conservative firebrand. Under his leadership, the House Judiciary Committee launched investigations into Hunter Biden, the FBI and prosecutors that brought charges against Trump.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., has also been mentioned as a top contender for speaker.

Ohio Republicans heaped praise on Jordan after the announcement.

"House Republicans need a leader who can unite the conference and build on the accomplishments of Kevin McCarthy," Rep. Mike Carey, R-Columbus, said. "We were elected to rein in runaway federal spending, curb inflation, combat rising crime, and fix the border crisis. Jim Jordan is a proven conservative fighter who can continue delivering on our commitment to America."

Jordan's name came up for speaker earlier this year, but he stood by McCarthy throughout his contentious election to the post. As recently as Monday, Jordan said he still didn't want the position.

"I want to focus on the job I have," Jordan told Bloomberg before McCarthy's removal. "I think I'm serving the folks in the fourth district of Ohio. That's my main job is to do what I told them I was going to do when they gave me the privilege to represent them, their families, their businesses, our communities across west-central and north-central Ohio. And to do the work on the Judiciary Committee to hold these agencies accountable. And I think we've made a difference."

If elected, Jordan would be the fourth U.S. House speaker from Ohio. He famously clashed with former House Speaker John Boehner when the southwest Ohio Republican led the chamber.

"Jordan was a terrorist as a legislator going back to his days in the Ohio House and Senate," Boehner told Politico in 2021. "A terrorist. A legislative terrorist."

Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Jim Jordan announces House speaker bid after Kevin McCarthy ouster