Republicans Face Uphill Battle to Elect Jim Jordan as House Speaker Despite Opposition from GOP Holdouts

Former Congressman Denver Riggleman (R-VA) expressed his exasperation on Tuesday at the possibility of Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) replacing ousted Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as the next House Speaker. Joy Reid asked Riggleman if he could even wrap his mind around the idea of Jordan, who has been endorsed by Donald Trump and supported his failed efforts to flip the 2020 election result, being responsible for security and safety at the Capitol if he wins the role.

Riggleman, who quit the GOP last year over its devotion to Trump, replied that the prospect was “terrifying to the sane and it’s terrifying to the rational.” Republicans are still trying to elect Jordan as House Speaker, despite the opposition of GOP holdouts.

Jordan has been a staunch ally of Trump since his election in 2016, and has been a vocal supporter of the former president’s policies. He has also been a vocal opponent of the 2020 election results, and voted to overturn them even after the violent insurrection on January 6th.

The prospect of Jordan becoming House Speaker has been met with criticism from both sides of the aisle. Democrats have expressed concern over his loyalty to Trump and his support for overturning the election results, while Republicans have expressed concern over his lack of experience in the role.

The election for House Speaker will take place in the coming weeks, and the outcome will be closely watched by both parties. It remains to be seen whether Jordan will be able to secure the position, and what impact his election would have on the future of the House.