Sen. Mike Braun endorses Jim Jordan in House speaker race

Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) endorsed House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) on Friday in the contest for House speaker.

Endorsements from Republicans have been trickling in for Jordan and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) since the two became the front-runners for the top job late this week. Braun, who is leaving the Senate next year to run for governor, is the third GOP senator to weigh in on the House leadership race and the second to back Jordan.

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“Jim Jordan is a fighter that doesn’t back down, and that’s what we need to secure the border and stop Joe Biden’s inflation bomb agenda,” Braun said in a statement. “He would stand up to the D.C. establishment and serve the American people well as Speaker of the House.”

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) was the first member of the upper chamber to get behind a candidate, endorsing Jordan’s bid for the gavel on Thursday morning.

AP

“I can’t think of a better person for Speaker. Chairman Jordan is a person with both high intelligence and integrity,” Johnson said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We are fortunate he is willing to serve America in this often thankless capacity. I hope his Republican House colleagues agree by fully supporting him.”

Scalise secured the endorsement of his home state colleague Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) late Thursday evening.

“Steve Scalise has conquered every challenge he’s faced because of his internal strength,” Cassidy wrote on X. “He is a strong leader, devoted father, friend to many, and would make a great Speaker! I support Steve!”

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Former President Donald Trump announced he was backing Jordan, one of his closest congressional allies, on Friday morning, making him the most high-profile endorsement to date. Jordan endorsed Trump’s 2024 bid earlier this year, while Scalise has stayed out of the presidential primary race.

The vast majority of GOP senators, meanwhile, have declined to weigh in on the contest, though that could change with time. A candidate forum is expected for the House Republican Conference on Tuesday, and voting within the conference will likely begin on Wednesday.