Ryan endorses friend McCarthy for next House Speaker

Rep. Jim Jordan, a prominent and polarizing conservative leader, said Friday he is strongly considering a run for House speaker in a bid that could upend the race to succeed Paul D. Ryan.

“There is no speaker’s race right now. Paul Ryan is the speaker,” said Jordan (R-Ohio). “If and when there is, I’ve been urged by colleagues to consider that and I am definitely open to that. Right now though the focus has got to be on the next six months, us keeping the majority.”

Jordan, 54, is a former champion college wrestler who co-founded the House Freedom Caucus, a hard-line faction of about three dozen conservative lawmakers that could play a kingmaker role in any leadership race to come. Its members have been highly critical of the GOP leadership, especially after last month’s vote to pass a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill.