Rep. Jim Jordan has a well-earned reputation as a political fighter, so much so that former House Speaker John Boehner once remarked that he had never encountered someone “who spent more time tearing things apart.”

Now, nearly a decade after Boehner’s resignation in the midst of a conservative uprising, it’s Jordan who is attempting to unite the Republican Party in order to secure the position of Speaker of the House.

A favorite of former President Donald Trump and a darling of the party’s agitating base, Jordan’s path to becoming the third-ranking figure in the U.S. government is far from certain.

The House Republican conference is deeply divided following the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy just two weeks ago, the Associated Press reported.

To achieve victory, Jordan must secure the backing of nearly every House Republican, with little room for error in a chamber they only narrowly control.

If Jordan succeeds, it would further solidify the far right’s control of the Republican Party and ignite fresh conflicts with Democrats over the government’s size and reach.

However, a Jordan speakership would also come with certain drawbacks that could pose a challenge for Republicans as they strive to maintain their House majority in next year’s election.

The success of this endeavor will likely depend on securing support from moderate voters in swing districts.

Written by staff