WASHINGTON — With the switch from President Barack Obama’s administration to that of President-elect Donald Trump comes a power shift. According to the journalism organization Politico, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of that swing.
Politico released its Playbook Power List, which rated the top 30 most powerful or influential people or groups in Trump’s administration. Jordan, R-Urbana, rated eighth on the listing.
Politico said, “These are the people who know what’s really happening and will determine what gets done and undone. This list is the product of hundreds of interviews and conversations over the course of months.”
Jordan rated behind (1) Paul Ryan staffers Jonathan Burks, Brendan Buck, Kevin Seifert and Joyce Meyer, (2) GOP advising group Cavalry LLC, (3) Democratic group SKD Knickerbocker, (4) Trump staffers Sean Spicer, Mark Short and Josh Pitcock, (5) Trump chief of staff and senior adviser Reince Priebus and Stephen Bannon, (6) Sen. Chuck Schumer staffers Matt House and Mike Lynch and (7) a trio of new young Democrats, Ruben Gallego, Tim Ryan and Seth Moulton.
The organization had the following to say about Jordan and his rise in the power of influence:
“Jordan gave up his position as the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus against the wishes of many of his conservative friends. He was a founding member of the group who frequently went against his former Buckeye State colleague, then-Speaker John Boehner, and put the pressure on him that eventually caused him to resign. Even though he’s no longer head of the Freedom Caucus, conservatives look to Jordan, a former college wrestler, for advice on everything from policy to tactics. How he comports himself in the Trump era — and if he ever ascends to the chairmanship again — will be worth watching.”
Jordan has been a champion to many in the local congressional district because of his conservative ideology that has reflected its voters. His tactics have even caused spars with members of his own party. In a statement, Jordan took Politico’s assessment with a grain of salt.
“That and 50 cents will get you a cheap cup of coffee,” Jordan said. “Look, my goal is to do what my constituents sent me to Washington to do. To keep the promises I make to them about putting their interests first. The Freedom Caucus was founded to give conservatives in Congress a greater ability to do just that. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, and look forward to continuing that effort in 2017.”
