After Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) announced he plans to step down from a major leadership role, online critics are reacting with intrigue and mockery.
According to reporting by Politico on Wednesday, Jordan announced he will not seek a waiver to stay on as the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Jordan has held the role for eight years, and he would need a waiver of the GOP's three-term limit on leaders of the Judiciary Committee to keep the gavel.
"I'm just not going to do it," Jordan told Politico. "I'm focused on one thing, one thing only: winning. If the left wins, where they want to take the country is very, very scary."
He also revealed that he doesn't plan to return to lead Republicans on the House Oversight Committee, even though he has at least two terms of eligibility remaining there.
"No, I don't plan to do that," Jordan said about planning to stay on the Oversight Committee. "There's other people who are very interested in Oversight."
Jordan made the comments at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas. Meredith Lee Hill, a senior political reporter for Politico, flagged them as "very interesting comments from Jim Jordan for House GOP leadership."
Meanwhile, journalist Michael McGough told Jordan to "use the spare time to buy a sportcoat" in a post on X, referring to the GOP congressman's go-to look of a long-sleeve button-up with no coat.
"Is there a Polymarket [bet] for whether Jordan runs for leader?" asked political commentator Rachael Bade, suggesting Jordan might have his sights set on the House Speaker role. "If not, better start one!"
However, other reporters were quick to confirm who plans to replace Jordan on the Judiciary Committee. Politico reporter Mia McCarthy, who broke the news on Jordan's departure, wrote in a post on X that Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL) is "planning to seek the top R position on the Judiciary Committee, her spokesperson tells me."
Fox News reporter Liz Elkind and Washington Sun reporter Reese Gorman also confirmed that Lee plans to step into Jordan's Judiciary job.