A group of 114 conservative leaders sent a letter to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) asking him to run for Speaker of the House. Currently, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is widely seen as the favored, establishment candidate to replace outgoing Speaker Paul Ryan. He endorsed McCarthy as his replacement.

Entitled “Clean House,” the letter begins, “The present House Republican leadership has proven that it’s part of ‘the Swamp.’ Consequently, a vote to promote any member of today’s House GOP leadership is a vote for the Swamp. It’s time to Clean House.”

The letter praised Jordan’s conservative record. He has an impressive — and rare — 100 percent lifetime rating from The American Conservative Union. “You have demonstrated over your years on Capitol Hill an unwavering commitment to our constitutional liberties and conservative principles of free market economics, budgetary discipline, traditional values and a strong national defense.”

A member of the Freedom Caucus, Jordan has clashed with House leadership during his tenure in Congress. He is widely seen as an outsider.

Ryan has announced he will stay on as Speaker through the rest of his term this year. He is not running for reelection to the House. The letter requests that Jordan announce his intention to step into the Speaker’s race “at once.” The election to replace Ryan would take place in January of next year, but there are rumors Ryan is trying to maneuver McCarthy into the spot before that.

Axios obtained an early release of the letter and asked Jordan about it. He responded, “The American people want results, and I’m committed to bringing that change. It’s as simple as this — doing what we told the voters we would do.”

Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, circulated the letter. Those signing it include Ed Meese, Former Attorney General for President Ronald Reagan, L. Brent Bozell III, Media Research Center, Richard Viguerie, Chairman, ConservativeHQ.com, Hon. Ken Cuccinelli, President, Senate Conservatives Fund and Morton C. Blackwell, Chairman, The Weyrich Lunch, Jenny Beth Martin, Chairman, Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund, Frank Gaffney, President, Center for Security Policy and Tim Wildmon, President, American Family Association.

The letter may provide the momentum and support Jordan needs to have a realistic shot at Speaker.
Follow Rachel on Twitter at Rach_IC. Rachel signed the letter.

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