WASHINGTON — Two weeks without a House speaker, Republicans will meet behind closed doors Monday evening to try to unite around their new nominee, far-right firebrand Rep. Jim Jordan, a Donald Trump ally who appears to be quickly shoring up support to win the gavel.
One by one Jordan, the hard-charging Judiciary Committee chairman, has been peeling off detractors who view the Ohio Republican as too extreme. A major pressure campaign from Trump allies including Fox News’ Sean Hannity has helped quickly build support. A floor vote that could turn into a showdown is set for Tuesday.
“I feel real good about the momentum we have,” Jordan said outside his office in Washington.
In a letter Monday to colleagues, Jordan took a cooperative tone vowing to “bring all Republicans together” if he becomes House speaker after the ouster of Kevin McCarthy.
“The country and our conference cannot afford us attacking each other right now,” Jordan wrote. “It is time we unite to get back to work on behalf of the American people.”
The political climb has been steep for Jordan, an outsider and founding member of the right-flank Freedom Caucus who is now just votes away from a seat central to U.S power. House Republicans have watched their majority control of the chamber descend into chaos since McCarthy’s sudden removal from the job Oct. 3. All House business has ground to a halt.
To seize the gavel, second in line to the presidency, Jordan will need almost the full majority of his colleagues behind him in a House floor vote, as Democrats are certain to back their own nominee, Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
Jordan fell more than 50 votes short during internal party voting Friday, and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the party’s first nominee to replace McCarthy, also failed to unify the Republicans.
But Jordan can rely on Trump’s backing as well as pressure on colleagues from an army of grass-roots activists who recognize him from cable news and fiery performances…
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