Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) said Tuesday that he thinks Speaker Paul Ryan should stay in his position through the end of the Congress, as he has pledged to do.
“The speaker said he’s going to stay, so I take him at his word, I think he should stay,” Jordan told Hill.TV’s “Rising.”
In April, Ryan announced that he would not seek reelection in the November midterm elections, but said that he would serve out the remainder of his term.
Since Ryan’s announcement, there has been speculation that he could decide to leave Congress earlier, and Jordan has seen his name floated as a possible new Speaker.
During an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Ryan endorsed Republican Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy as the next House speaker, but it’s unclear of the California Republican can win the 218 votes necessary to secure a victory on the floor.
Jordan, the co-founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, reaffirmed that he’s interested in becoming the next Speaker.
“I’ve said all along that if and when there’s a race, I plan on being apart of that discussion,” Jordan said.
But the congressman says that’s not where he’s putting his energy – at least for now. He told Hill.TV that if House Republicans “do things right this year,” then they’ll be able to remain in control of the House. All 435 seats are up for grabs this year, but Democrats will need to flip 23 seats in order to reclaim control of the House.
“Right now, the focus had better be on what we told the American people we’re going to do because, more important than who the Speaker is next year, is what we do this year,” Jordan told the Hill.TV.
— Tess Bonn
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