Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) secured a pivotal endorsement from a high-powered Republican as he works to gather enough votes to be elected the next Speaker of the House.

House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) announced on Monday that he would support Jordan, a significant development as Rogers had reportedly declared last week that he could not be swayed to back Jordan.

Jordan “and I have had two cordial, thoughtful, and productive conversations over the past two days. We agreed on the need for Congress to pass a strong NDAA [National Defense Authorization Act], appropriations to fund our government’s vital functions, and other important legislation like the Farm Bill,” Rogers said in a post to X.

.@Jim_Jordan and I have had two cordial, thoughtful, and productive conversations over the past two days. We agreed on the need for Congress to pass a strong NDAA, appropriations to fund our government's vital functions, and other important legislation like the Farm Bill. (1/3)

— Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) October 16, 2023

“As a result, I have decided to support Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House on the floor,” Rogers continued, adding, “Since I was first elected to the House, I have always been a team player and supported what the majority of the Republican Conference agrees to. Together, our Republican majority will be stronger to fight [President] Joe Biden’s reckless agenda for America.”

Jordan thanked Rogers for his endorsement.

“Your leadership is just what our Conference needs right now,” Jordan added. “We must all keep coming together and get back to work.”

Jordan, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, won the GOP nomination in his second try on Friday. He defeated Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) in a 124-81 Republican conference vote. In a second secret ballot asking members if they would support Jordan in a House floor vote, Republicans voted 152-55.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP

Like the party’s first nominee who dropped out last week, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), Jordan faces a challenge in mustering enough support to get a simple majority to secure victory in a chamber-wide vote for speaker.

Democrats are pushing for a coalition to elect a new speaker, which Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) suggested would include rules changes “to facilitate bipartisanship,” but Punchbowl News co-founder Jake Sherman said Jordan scoring a “massive” endorsement from Rogers indicates that the Ohio Republican could be well on his way to winning the gavel with only GOP votes.

“Mike Rogers’ endorsement brings to the surface a very important dynamic in this speaker race: If Jordan is within striking distance of winning — 10 or so away — it’s his to lose. It will be tough to stand in the way of his speakership then,” Sherman added. “If he’s 30 away, it’s a totally different ballgame.”

The House is expected to vote for speaker as early as Tuesday, which would be two weeks after eight Republicans joined with Democrats in voting to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the role. McCarthy said he is now supporting Jordan. Former President Donald Trump has also endorsed Jordan for speaker.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) is serving as speaker pro tempore in the short term.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a conservative Republican, was elected governor of the state in a landslide victory on Saturday night. 

He beat out his next closest challenger, Democrat Shawn Wilson, by 51.6% to 25.9% in Lousiana’s all-party primary election. Landry, who flipped control of the governor’s mansion after eight years of Democratic rule, was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

“Today’s election says that our state is united,” Landry said in his victory speech. “It’s a wake-up call and it’s a message that everyone should hear loud and clear, that we the people in this state are going to expect more out of our government from here on out.”

Louisiana has a “jungle primary” system, meaning that the expected runoff was averted because Landry garnered more than 50% of the vote in the 16-candidate field, including Republicans, Democrats, and independents. It’s the first time that’s happened since the 2007 and 2011 elections, with former Republican Governor Bobby Jindal winning both contests handily. 

Landry is a former U.S. congressman from Louisiana’s 3rd district, a seat he held from 2011 to 2013. In 2016, he was elected attorney general of Louisiana and was easily re-elected four years later. Saturday’s gubernatorial election was the first major contest preceding the 2024 elections. 

In May, Trump endorsed Landry, saying, “I am endorsing your Attorney General Jeff Landry for Governor. He has been a fantastic Attorney General. He wants to stop crime. He loves the people of Louisiana just like I do.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP

Landry also had the backing of the state GOP heading into the primary. In a Saturday post to Truth Social, Trump congratulated Landry on the win and said he would be a “truly GREAT GOVERNOR.” 

Landry ran on getting crime under control and improving the economy and public school system. His campaign website blasts “woke” district attorneys for being soft on crime, and he says that as governor, Louisiana would “hold everyone, and I mean everyone, accountable for violent crime.” He describes himself as a “fearless champion” for the pro-life cause, receiving a 100% score from the National Right to Life. 

The governor-elect has also been a strong voice for parental rights in education, saying he would sign a parental rights bill as governor and pledging to stop the “woke agenda” in schools throughout the state.  

Following the election on Saturday night, Landry said he was “Thankful beyond belief” and “ready to get to work.” He will succeed Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards, who congratulated Landry in a statement and said he campaigned on “important kitchen table issues.”