The story of Representative Jim Jordan’s failed bid for the House Speaker position has shattered the already fragile relationship between the Republican Party’s hardliners and moderates. Jordan’s attempt to overthrow his own caucus leader, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, made clear the true state of disarray within the GOP and exposed the true depths of the civil war vis-a-vis the moderate vs. far-right factions within the party.
At the time Jordan entered the race, it appeared that the hardliners and moderates had finally reached a compromise, unifying behind one leader. But when Jordan threw his hat in the ring, the talks of compromise were quickly replaced with heated rhetoric and political in-fighting. Jordan and his supporters attacked the “establishment” and suggested that McCarthy had become a lapdog of the party elites. Jordan declared that the party needed a leader who “would challenge the establishment and take the fight to the Left”, similar to Jordan’s own brand of firebrand conservatism.
Jordan’s strategy quickly turned into a disaster, as there was little-to-no support in the House for the Ohio Representative’s campaign. Without a unified front, the hardliners were quickly divided and splintered. Even President Trump publicly stated he didn’t believe Jordan had the necessary support to become Speaker. In the end, Jordan withdrew his bid and McCarthy walked away with the victory.
The events of the past week have laid bare the deep divisions within the Republican Party. While both the hardliners and moderates share a common goal of opposing the Democrats, the infighting between the two camps will likely continue to undermine the GOP’s progress and hamper its ability to meet its objectives. The events of the past week may be a victory for the moderates, or it could be the opening salvo in an all-out war between the two sides. Either way, it’s clear that the GOP’s internal squabbles can no longer be contained with mere rhetoric and political posturing.