May election: Democrats and Republicans line up to take on Congressman Jim Jordan

Local Congressman Jim Jordan has become one of the most prominant faces for conservatives in America.

Jordan's name has also been floated as a long-shot possibility for House speaker. He said, "If and when there is a race for speaker, I've had colleagues urge me to consider that."

Before he gets to the next session of Congress, he has to fend off some Republican and Democratic primary challengers.

Voters in Ohio’s 4th congressional district will select a Republican and Democratic candidate on May 8 to run in November’s general election.

Jordan and Joseph Miller, of Marion, face one another in the Republican primary. Jordan agreed to an interview with the newspaper; Miller could not be reached for comment.

In the Democratic race, Janet Garrett, of Elyria, faces Cody James Slatzer-Rose, of New Albany. Garrett agreed to a newspaper interview; Slatzer-Rose could not be reached for comment. Leah Sellers, of Marysville, withdrew.

VOTER GUIDE: Read the candidates in their own words

Geographically, the district is one of the most gerrymandered in Ohio, winding as far south as Champaign County and as far north as Sandusky County. The district’s furthest longitudes are in Mercer County to the west, and Lorain County to the east. The district nears, but does not include, the city of Columbus. The district includes all of Logan County.

Jordan and Garrett both support state Issue 1, a ballot issue to amend the Ohio Constitution and establish new congressional redistricting procedures. The district, like all others in Ohio, could be given new borders after Census 2020.

Jordan’s number one issue continues to be curbing federal spending. He also seeks welfare and immigration reform.

“Despite the fact that our economy is growing fast than it has in past years and new money is coming into the treasury, we are still running huge deficits that burden our children with debt and threaten to bankrupt the country,” Jordan said. “I will continue to push for the same fiscally conservative policies as always, including a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.”

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Garrett said she thinks “it’s absolutely hilarious that he thinks he’s going to get support among his colleagues for the speakership.”

Garrett, who said the opioid crisis is “at the top of my radar,” said Jordan “claims to be a Christian,” but said “I see no evidence of that in his policies.” She criticized the federal response to the opioid crisis.

“I can’t say I’ve spent a lot of time down there,” Garrett said about the southern parts of the district. “I have been down in that part of the district though, and from what I understand, the No. 1 issue people face in the district is the opioid issue.”

“My feeling is the federal government has a role to play in the lives of citizens, that we are supposed do do for us what we can’t do individually,” she said. “I know that Donald Trump, to his credit, has said this is an emergency and they put some money in the budget, but not nearly enough.”

On trade, both Jordan and Garrett said limited tariffs are necessary.

Both candidates support the Second Amendment, to different extents.

“There’s room for common sense gun reform to prevent unnecessary deaths, but as a lifelong gun owner, I know that calls to ban assault weapons are nebulous at best,” Garrett said. “I am committed to advocating for change that will make a difference in saving lives, not just restricting gun ownership for the sake of restricting it.”

Jordan said schools are “correctly taking steps to harden the security of their buildings when school is in session.”

“I do not agree that passing more restrictions on the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens will prevent evil people from committing acts like this in the future,” he said.

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