Jordan Claims He Has the Votes to Beat Scalise

“At some point this afternoon, the careers of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) will be permanently altered,” Punchbowl News reports.

“One of them – they were both first elected during George W. Bush’s presidency – will be House minority leader, charged with helping the party emerge from the smallest minority since the 1990s. The other won’t have any leadership role in the House Republican Conference.”

“Leadership races are usually filled with mudslinging and backstabbing, but this one is being conducted remarkably above board. The most negative comment from Scalise’s camp is that Jordan is too focused on investigations and has no plan for legislating. Jordan’s allies counter that it would be crazy to promote the No. 2 House GOP leader to the top slot after Republicans got obliterated last week.”

“Jordan’s allies privately claim he has more than 100 yes votes locked up, well over the threshold to win. Scalise’s team scoffs at that. Meaning one of them will walk out of the room today very surprised.”