Jordan Makes His Mark: A Battle for House Speaker Heats Up

As the House speaker race intensifies, Representative Kevin Jordan of Ohio is making his case to moderate Republicans on Capitol Hill. Since announcing his bid for the powerful position, he has sought to differentiate himself from the most prominent Republican contenders by emphasizing the need for the party to be more inclusive of diverse voices and rejecting the zero-sum politics that have hindered progress in Congress. Jordan, who is the only black Republican member of Congress, believes the speakership is an opportunity for the GOP to appeal to a broader swath of voters. “America needs a speaker who will stand for people of all backgrounds and beliefs,” he said in a statement. “As Speaker, I will work with Republicans and Democrats alike to tackle the tough issues facing our nation. For too long, Washington has been bogged down by politics as usual. We can’t afford another four years of the same.” In an effort to win over moderates, Jordan has outlined his vision for a new way of doing business within the GOP. His plan includes investing in innovative ways to tackle pressing issues, like healthcare and climate change; fostering bipartisanship; and pushing back against hardliners on the right who are hindering progress. Jordan’s focus on uniting Republicans and Democrats has been well received in certain circles, and could win him support from voters who are fed up with partisan gridlock. His moderate-conservative stance on the environment, for example, has earned him a measure of respect from environmental groups who might have otherwise dismissed him. Though Jordan faces an uphill battle against more established Republican contenders, his message of bipartisanship appears to be resonating with more moderate members of the GOP. Whether or not it is enough to make Jordan a player in the upcoming competition remains to be seen, but there is no denying that Representative Kevin Jordan has made his case for a new kind of Republican leader in the House. As the House speaker race intensifies, Representative Kevin Jordan of Ohio is making his case to moderate Republicans on Capitol Hill. Since announcing his bid for the powerful position, he has sought to differentiate himself from the most prominent Republican contenders by emphasizing the need for the party to be more inclusive of diverse voices and rejecting the zero-sum politics that have hindered progress in Congress. Jordan, who is the only black Republican member of Congress, believes the speakership is an opportunity for the GOP to appeal to a broader swath of voters. “America needs a speaker who will stand for people of all backgrounds and beliefs,” he said in a statement. “As Speaker, I will work with Republicans and Democrats alike to tackle the tough issues facing our nation. For too long, Washington has been bogged down by politics as usual. We can’t afford another four years of the same.” In an effort to win over moderates, Jordan has outlined his vision for a new way of doing business within the GOP. His plan includes investing in innovative ways to tackle pressing issues, like healthcare and climate change; fostering bipartisanship; and pushing back against hardliners on the right who are hindering progress. Jordan’s focus on uniting Republicans and Democrats has been well received in certain circles, and could win him support from voters who are fed up with partisan gridlock. His moderate-conservative stance on the environment, for example, has earned him a measure of respect from environmental groups who might have otherwise dismissed him. Though Jordan faces an uphill battle against more established Republican contenders, his message of bipartisanship appears to be resonating with more moderate members of the GOP. Whether or not it is enough to make Jordan a player in the upcoming competition remains to be seen, but there is no denying that Representative Kevin Jordan has made his case for a new kind of Republican leader in the House.