House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan plans to relinquish the panel’s top Republican post after this Congress rather than seek an exemption from GOP term limits, a decision that has renewed speculation about his future in House leadership.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, plans to step aside from the powerful panel’s top Republican position after this Congress, choosing not to seek a waiver from the party’s committee leadership limits as he concentrates on helping Republicans in the November midterms.
Jordan disclosed his decision during the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas, telling Politico that he neither intends to seek an exemption allowing him to remain atop Judiciary nor plans to return to the House Oversight Committee, where he previously served as the ranking Republican. Other reporting from the Dallas convention confirmed Jordan’s plans.
“No, I don’t plan to do that,” Jordan said when asked about returning to Oversight. “There’s other people who are very interested in Oversight.”
Jordan, 62, is currently chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and represents Ohio’s 4th Congressional District. House Republican rules generally limit committee leaders to three terms, although exemptions can be granted. Jordan could seek such a waiver from the Republican Steering Committee but said he has no intention of doing so.
Asked why he would not seek an exemption to retain the Judiciary gavel, Jordan gave a brief answer.
“I’m just not going to do it,” he said.
The decision has prompted renewed discussion about whether Jordan could pursue a House leadership position after the midterm elections. Jordan unsuccessfully sought the speakership following Kevin McCarthy’s removal in 2023 and did not rule out another leadership bid when questioned in Dallas.
For now, Jordan said his attention is on keeping Republicans in control of the House.
“I’m focused on one thing, one thing only, winning,” Jordan said. “If the left wins, where they want to take the country is very, very scary.”
Pressed about whether he could challenge Speaker Mike Johnson for the gavel if Republicans remain in the majority, Jordan again declined to lay out any post-election plans.
“As I said, I’m focused on winning. We got to win,” Jordan said. “That’s why I’ve been in 15 different states, and so we just keep going to help our colleagues and candidates.”
Jordan is seeking an 11th term in Congress and said surrendering a committee chairmanship would not change his plans to continue representing his Ohio district.
“I’m going to go represent the people in the 4th District,” he said.
His announcement came during the Republican Party’s midterm convention in Dallas, where President Donald Trump and other party leaders have sought to build enthusiasm for GOP candidates ahead of the Nov. 3 elections.
Trump used Wednesday night’s program to urge supporters to turn out for Republican candidates and announced a proposal to provide a $5,000 payment to adult U.S. citizens if Republicans retain control of both the House and Senate. The proposal would require congressional approval and could cost more than $1 trillion depending on eligibility.
Republicans also highlighted the administration’s tax, spending and immigration policies as they made their case for retaining their congressional majorities.
National polling underscores the competitiveness of the broader fight for Congress. Decision Desk HQ’s national generic-ballot average showed Democrats holding a national advantage in its Sept. 9 update, while individual surveys varied considerably. The generic ballot measures which party voters say they would support for Congress nationally and does not determine the outcome of individual House districts.
Jordan’s decision also opens another prominent committee leadership contest for the next Congress. Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Fla., has already confirmed that she intends to seek the top Republican position on Judiciary after Jordan steps aside.
Jordan said he had no problem with other Republican committee chairmen seeking waivers to remain in their positions.
“They want a waiver, that’s fine. It’s been granted in the past, and sometimes they get them, sometimes they don’t,” Jordan said, adding that the decision was “up to the conference and the steering committee.”
Despite repeated questions about whether relinquishing Judiciary signals a larger political move, Jordan declined to reveal one.
Instead, when asked again what was next for him, he pointed to the remainder of his schedule at the Dallas convention.
“I got like three more interviews,” Jordan said. “And then I’m going to go sit down in that suite, and we’ve got to have some popcorn and watch the speeches. I think that’s what’s next for me.”
For the immediate future, Jordan says his priority remains the November midterms. What position he may pursue afterward remains unanswered, but his decision not to seek another term atop Judiciary ensures that one of the House’s most influential committee gavels will change hands in the next Congress.
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