Jim Jordan Drops Letter Courting Reluctant GOP Colleagues As He Gains Momentum in Speaker Bid

Now that he’s gaining momentum in his bid for Speaker of the House and pushing a floor vote on Tuesday, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) is rallying his fellow Republicans in a letter asking them to put aside their differences and reassure them that he is the one who can “bring all Republicans together.”

In the letter, addressed “Dear Colleague,” Jordan wrote:

The principles that unite us as Republicans are far greater than the disagreements that divide us. … The country and our conference cannot afford us attacking each other right now. It is time we unite to get back to work on behalf of the American people.

He also wrote:

The role of a Speaker is to bring all Republicans together. That’s what I intend to do. … Our goal will be to empower our committees and committee chairs to take the lead on the House’s legislative work through regular order. This will bring us together to pass responsible legislation to fund our government and support our military. I will tirelessly work to defend and expand our majority and and help every Republican member back at home.

It’s quite a cover letter, though no mention of working with Democrats on passing legislation that might get through the Democratic-led Senate and be signed by the Democratic president.

Jordan sent the letter on the House of Representatives’ 13th day without a Speaker, and despite the sudden push for a vote, he’s totally not doing it to pressure anyone! As he told CNN’s Manu Raju, this was about getting back to work for the American people. And getting aid to Israel. Totally not about pressure, that’s not why he’s forcing a vote by noon on Tuesday:

It’s not about pressuring anybody, it’s just about, we got to have a speaker. You can’t open the House and do the work of the American people and help our dearest and closest friend Israel if you don’t have a speaker. So we get the speaker, we get the House open, and we get to work on the resolution and supplemental for Israel, and we get back to work for the American people. And that’s what I’m committed to doing. I think it’s going to happen tomorrow.

It is not clear that Jordan has the 217 votes he needs to become Speaker of the House, but this new momentum has him confident that “We are going to elect a speaker tomorrow.”

Watch the video above via CNN.