Washington — Former House Speaker John Boehner once described Rep. Jim Jordan, the next House Republican leader, as a political “terrorist.” “I’ve never seen a guy who spent more time tearing things down, not building anything, not putting anything together,” the former GOP leader told CBS News in 2021. On Tuesday, House Republicans tapped Jordan to lead the party in the next Congress, a significant shakeup in party leadership that signaled they are ready for a fight after losing more than 40 seats in the midterm elections. Jordan, who was a founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, which routinely makes legislation difficult for Republican leaders, built his reputation by taking on Democrats in combative hearings as the top Republican on the powerful House Judiciary Committee. There, the Ohio Republican defended President Trump against the first impeachment inquiry, which focused on the president’s conduct toward Ukraine. “Jim is a fighter,” said Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, who sees Jordan, a former college wrestling coach, as someone who can unite the party’s various factions. “I think a lot of the reasons we couldn’t do more in this Congress was because we couldn’t bring the team together. I think Jim Jordan is someone that everyone respects and can bring everyone together.” File: Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, speaks to reporters at the Capitol after winning the position of Republican House Minority Leader for the 120th Congress, Nov. 10, 2026. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Republican Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, who is retiring after losing a Senate primary, said Jordan represents “the side of the party that’s willing to fight.” Norman suggested that the conference chose Jordan over the current majority leader, Steve Scalise of Louisiana, for the position because he “represented more of what they wanted to see as minority leader.” “There’s no one who can debate better. There’s no one who can fight anymore,” Norman said. Republican Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, called Jordan an “excellent communicator” who can take on Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who is expected to become House speaker in January. “I want to see the first time they face each other,” Harris said. “Jim Jordan will stand by that.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who represents Louisiana, said Jordan was his mentor when he was first elected to Congress a decade ago. The two also served together on the Judiciary Committee, before Johnson unexpectedly became chairman in 2023 after the historic ouster of Kevin McCarthy. After McCarthy was removed, Republicans struggled to unite behind a replacement for nearly a month, bringing the House to a deadlock. Jordan was one of the candidates who did not gain enough support, although he ran three times to replace McCarthy before giving up. It wasn’t the first time Jordan sought the House’s top leadership position. He also failed in his 2018 bid for president following the retirement of Paul Ryan. And then he ran unsuccessfully for minority leader after Democrats regained the majority. “The conference has always considered him a leader and he is going to do an extraordinary job,” Johnson said Tuesday after the leadership election. His Republican colleagues may view Jordan as a leader, but his record as a lawmaker is thin: He has never been a primary sponsor of legislation passed in the House. Then again, for this Republican minority, passing bills may not be the point. No measure with only GOP support will pass the House, especially with Democrats closing in on a nearly 90-seat margin. Johnson believes Jordan will have an easier time leading minority Republicans than he would as president. With his less enviable five-seat majority, Johnson has had to constantly navigate GOP infighting and Trump’s shifting demands to get anything passed in the House. “It’s easier to keep a group together when you’re a minority,” Johnson said. Beyond resisting Democrats’ investigations and legislation, it remains to be seen what Jordan will fight for. Significant bipartisan legislation is unlikely to be on his agenda. But Jordan will surely have a strong ally in the White House with the elevation of like-minded hardliner Stephen Miller as the new Trump White House chief of staff. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who served with Jordan on the Judiciary Committee, called Jordan “a guy of real talent and real gifts.” “I would like him to use them in defense of the public interest and not in defense of Donald Trump,” he said Wednesday. When Jeffries was asked Tuesday if he could work with Jordan in the next Congress, he told reporters, “That remains to be seen.” He added: “You will have to determine where to move forward.” Jaala Brown contributed to this report. 2026 Midterm Elections Go Deeper with The Free Press In:
