Jim Jordan

Jim Jordan
Born	James Daniel Jordan 17 2, 1964
Birthplace	Troy, Ohio, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Known for	Chair of the House Judiciary Committee; co-founder and first chair of the House Freedom Caucus; two-time NCAA wrestling champion
Education	University of Wisconsin–Madison (BS) Ohio State University (MA) Capital University (JD)
Children	4
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom (2021)

James Daniel Jordan (born February 17, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who has served as the U.S. Representative for Ohio's 4th congressional district since 2007. A member of the Republican Party, Jordan has established himself as one of the most prominent conservative voices in the U.S. Congress over the course of nearly two decades in the House. Before entering politics, Jordan was a two-time NCAA Division I national champion wrestler and later a college wrestling coach. In Congress, he co-founded the House Freedom Caucus, a right-wing populist caucus within the Republican conference, and served as its first chair from 2015 to 2017. Jordan has served as chair of the House Judiciary Committee since January 2023, a position from which he has conducted investigations and oversight activities. A close ally of President Donald Trump, Jordan played a prominent role during both of Trump's impeachment proceedings and has been a vocal defender of the former president throughout various investigations. Prior to his service in the U.S. House, Jordan served in the Ohio General Assembly, first in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1995 to 2000, and then in the Ohio Senate from 2001 to 2006.

Early Life

James Daniel Jordan was born on February 17, 1964, in Troy, Ohio, to John and Shirley Jordan. He grew up in the small-town communities of western Ohio, a region known for its strong wrestling tradition. Jordan attended Graham High School in St. Paris, Ohio, where he became one of the most accomplished high school wrestlers in Ohio history. He compiled a remarkable record during his high school career, winning state championships and establishing a reputation as a fierce competitor on the mat.

Jordan's wrestling career continued at the collegiate level, where he became a standout competitor. He won two NCAA Division I national wrestling championships during his time at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His victories at the national level cemented his status as one of the premier wrestlers of his era. Jordan's accomplishments in the sport were later recognized by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, which honored him as an Outstanding American.

After completing his competitive wrestling career, Jordan transitioned into coaching the sport. He served as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University, where he worked with the university's wrestling program. His time as a coach at Ohio State would later become a subject of public controversy regarding allegations about the program during that period.

Education

Jordan earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he competed as a collegiate wrestler. He subsequently earned a Master of Arts degree from Ohio State University, where he also served as an assistant wrestling coach. Jordan later pursued legal education and earned a Juris Doctor degree from Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. His legal training provided a foundation for his later work in both the Ohio state legislature and the U.S. Congress, where he has frequently engaged in questioning witnesses during committee hearings.

Career

Ohio State Legislature (1995–2006)

Jordan began his political career in the Ohio General Assembly. He was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 85th district, and served from January 3, 1995, to December 31, 2000. He succeeded Jim Davis in the seat and was succeeded by Derrick Seaver upon his departure. During his time in the state House, Jordan established himself as a conservative legislator.

In 2000, Jordan was elected to the Ohio Senate, where he represented the 12th district from January 3, 2001, to December 31, 2006. He succeeded Robert R. Cupp in the Senate seat and was succeeded by Keith Faber. Jordan's tenure in the Ohio Senate further solidified his conservative credentials and prepared him for a run for federal office.

U.S. House of Representatives

Election and Early Terms (2007–2014)

Jordan was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006, succeeding Mike Oxley as the representative for Ohio's 4th congressional district. He took office on January 3, 2007, and has been reelected to every subsequent term, currently serving in his 10th term. Ohio's 4th district covers a largely rural area of west-central Ohio, and Jordan has won reelection by comfortable margins throughout his tenure.

In the House, Jordan quickly established himself as a member of the conservative wing of the Republican conference. He became known for his willingness to challenge the Republican leadership on fiscal and policy matters, advocating for smaller government, reduced spending, and stricter adherence to conservative principles.

House Freedom Caucus (2015–Present)

In 2015, Jordan co-founded the House Freedom Caucus, a caucus of conservative and right-wing populist Republican members of the House of Representatives. He served as the caucus's first chair from October 1, 2015, to January 3, 2017, and has served as its vice chair since 2017.

The Freedom Caucus was formed in part out of frustration with the Republican leadership in the House, particularly then-Speaker of the House John Boehner. Jordan was a prominent critic of Boehner, and the Freedom Caucus applied sustained pressure on the Speaker that contributed to Boehner's resignation in 2015. The caucus wielded significant influence within the Republican conference due to its willingness to vote as a bloc against leadership-backed legislation, effectively giving its members leverage in negotiations over spending bills, procedural votes, and leadership elections.

Under Jordan's chairmanship, the Freedom Caucus established itself as a force in House Republican politics, frequently pushing the conference to adopt more conservative positions on issues including government spending, immigration, and healthcare policy.

House Oversight and Judiciary Committees

Jordan has served on several key House committees during his tenure. He served as the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee from January 3, 2019, to March 12, 2020, succeeding Elijah Cummings in that role. He briefly served in the ranking member position again from March 31 to June 29, 2020, between the tenures of Mark Meadows and James Comer.

In March 2020, Jordan became the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, succeeding Doug Collins. When Republicans regained the majority in the House following the 2022 midterm elections, Jordan became chair of the Judiciary Committee on January 3, 2023, succeeding Democratic chair Jerry Nadler.

As chair of the Judiciary Committee, Jordan has overseen investigations into a range of issues. In October 2025, he sent a letter to former Special Counsel Jack Smith demanding his testimony before the committee. In November 2025, the Judiciary Committee disclosed that the Department of Justice under the Biden–Harris administration had subpoenaed Jordan's personal phone records from Verizon, covering a period of more than two years.

In August 2025, Jordan led a bipartisan delegation of Judiciary Committee members to Brussels, Belgium, to discuss issues related to free speech in Europe.

Role During Trump Investigations and Impeachments

Jordan became one of the most visible congressional defenders of President Donald Trump during the various investigations and impeachment proceedings of Trump's first term. During the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 election, Jordan sought to discredit the investigation and its investigators.

During the first impeachment of Donald Trump in 2019, stemming from the Trump–Zelenskyy telephone controversy, Jordan was one of Trump's most vocal defenders. He staged a sit-in alongside other Republican members to disrupt an impeachment inquiry hearing. Jordan's combative questioning style during committee hearings drew significant media attention and made him one of the most recognizable Republican members during the proceedings.

January 6 and the Select Committee

Following the 2020 presidential election, which was won by Joe Biden, Jordan supported efforts to challenge the election results. He supported lawsuits aimed at contesting the election outcome and voted against certifying the Electoral College results on January 6, 2021.

In the aftermath of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack sought Jordan's testimony regarding his communications with President Trump on and around January 6. Jordan refused to cooperate with the committee's investigation. On May 12, 2022, the Select Committee issued a subpoena to Jordan, along with several other Republican members of Congress including Kevin McCarthy, Mo Brooks, Scott Perry, and Andy Biggs. Jordan continued to refuse to cooperate with the subpoena.

2023 Speaker of the House Election

Jordan's relationship with House Republican leadership has been complex. In 2015, he opposed Kevin McCarthy's initial bid to succeed Boehner as Speaker. However, the two later became close allies, and Jordan supported McCarthy during the protracted January 2023 Speaker of the House election, in which McCarthy required 15 rounds of voting to secure the speakership.

When McCarthy was removed as Speaker in October 2023 through a motion to vacate the chair, Jordan emerged as a candidate to replace him. He became the second nominee of the House Republican Conference after Steve Scalise withdrew from the race. However, Jordan was unable to secure the necessary votes to win the speakership, falling short in three successive rounds of voting on the House floor. Facing continued opposition from a significant number of Republican members, Jordan withdrew his nomination, and the Republican conference ultimately selected Mike Johnson as Speaker.

Ongoing Political Activities

As of early 2026, Jordan continued to serve as chair of the House Judiciary Committee. According to reporting by Cleveland.com, Jordan has been traveling the country on behalf of the Republican Party to prevent Democrats from winning congressional seats, drawing on his experience as a political organizer and his high profile within the party.

Personal Life

Jordan resides in Ohio with his family. He and his wife, Polly, have four children. Jordan has remained connected to the wrestling community throughout his political career, and his background as a wrestler is frequently cited in media profiles as a defining element of his personal identity and approach to politics.

Jordan's time as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University has been the subject of public scrutiny. Multiple former wrestlers alleged that team doctor Richard Strauss sexually abused athletes during the period when Jordan was an assistant coach. Jordan has denied having knowledge of the alleged abuse. The controversy has remained a recurring topic in public discourse surrounding Jordan, including in opinion pieces and letters to the editor in Ohio newspapers.

Recognition

Jordan's accomplishments in both athletics and politics have earned him several forms of recognition. His wrestling career achievements include two NCAA Division I national championships while competing for the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He was inducted into or honored by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, which recognized him as an Outstanding American.

In January 2021, President Donald Trump awarded Jordan the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States. The award was given in recognition of Jordan's service in Congress and his advocacy for conservative principles. The award was conferred during the final days of Trump's first term in office.

Jordan has been described by various media outlets as one of the most influential conservative members of the House of Representatives. His role as co-founder and first chair of the House Freedom Caucus, his chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee, and his close alliance with President Trump have made him a central figure in Republican politics during the 2010s and 2020s.

Legacy

Jim Jordan's political career has been defined by his role as a conservative insurgent within the Republican Party who became a major institutional figure. As the co-founder and first chair of the House Freedom Caucus, Jordan helped create an organizational vehicle that reshaped the dynamics of the House Republican conference. The Freedom Caucus's willingness to challenge Republican leadership contributed to the resignation of Speaker John Boehner in 2015 and has continued to influence legislative negotiations and leadership elections.

Jordan's tenure as chair of the House Judiciary Committee has placed him at the center of major oversight battles between the legislative and executive branches. His combative style during committee hearings—honed during his years as a competitive wrestler—has made him one of the most recognizable members of Congress and a fixture of political media coverage.

His close alliance with Donald Trump has been one of the defining features of his political career. Jordan's willingness to defend Trump during the Russia investigation, both impeachment proceedings, and the aftermath of the 2020 election has made him a polarizing figure in American politics. Supporters view him as a principled conservative fighter, while critics have characterized his approach as obstructionist.

Jordan's failed bid for the Speaker of the House in October 2023, while ultimately unsuccessful, underscored both his influence within the Republican conference and the limits of that influence. His inability to consolidate enough support to win the speakership reflected the same factional dynamics within the party that Jordan himself had helped to create through the Freedom Caucus.