Tipsheet

Jordan Will Challenge McCarthy to Be House Minority Leader

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) announced Wednesday he will challenge Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to become House minority leader. 

"I plan to run for minority leader," Jordan told Hill.TV's Buck Sexton.

"In 2016, the American people elected Republicans to come here and change this town. I think the president is doing just that, but I don't think they see the same intensity from folks in Congress, folks in the House of Representatives," he added. 

"Have we replaced Obamacare yet? Have we secured the border yet? Have we reformed welfare yet? No," he said. 

Jordan argued that Republican leadership has failed to engage Democrats in debate. 

"Now that we're in the minority, that's about all what we can do is debate, but fight hard in the debate for the principals, for the things that we know the American people sent us here to do in 2016. Show them that we deserve to be back in power in 2020," he said. 

Jordan, who co-founded the House Freedom Caucus, announced earlier this year he would be running to replace Paul Ryan as House Speaker.

"Should the American people entrust us with the majority again in the 116th Congress, I plan to run for Speaker of the House to bring real change to the House of Representatives,” he said in July.

McCarthy earned Ryan's endorsement in April, however, and is also supported by President Trump. 

Jordan won re-election Tuesday night in Ohio's 4th congressional district, defeating Democrat Janet Garrett.