Jim Jordan working to garner support from home state delegation in bid for speaker

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) is trying to bolster support for his speakership bid within the Ohio delegation, receiving the endorsement of three of the nine Republicans representing the state.

Jordan received the endorsement of Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), a member of the House Freedom Caucus, who told the Washington Examiner in a statement that he believes Jordan is the candidate that will unite the House Republican Conference.

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“As I’ve said, I believe whomever can unite the House GOP around a shared agenda will emerge as the next Speaker,” Davidson said. “Jim unites our conference. His leadership, influence, and tireless effort have helped build our majority. ‘Do what you said you would do’ isn’t just a great book title, it’s the path forward. I unequivocally support my friend and America’s champion for freedom: Jim Jordan as the next Speaker of the House.”

But, it’s not just the hard-line conservative members of the delegation like Davidson who have endorsed him; centrist members of the Ohio delegation such as Reps. Mike Carey (R-OH) and Mike Turner (R-OH) have endorsed the House Judiciary chairman to be the next speaker.

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

Turner, the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, also endorsed Jordan.

Both Carey and Turner are centrist members of the Republican districts. Turner represents a district that is only an R+4, and Carey’s is an R+6, according to the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter.

A criticism thrown at Jordan is that while he can rake up conservative votes within the conference, he would struggle with bringing in the more centrist members.

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On Wednesday, Turner called a meeting together with the Ohio Republican delegation, where they had a conversation with Jordan, according to the Dayton Daily News.

“As dean of the Ohio congressional delegation, I convened a meeting of Ohio Republican members of Congress,” Turner told the paper. “We had an open and frank conversation with Jim Jordan, and I am proud to support Jim Jordan due to his leadership, professionalism, and ability to bring this conference together.”