House Freedom Caucus chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is set to speak at a Thursday night fundraiser for Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) ahead of his 2018 reelection bid.
According to a report by Politico, Jordan agreed to headline Zeldin’s reelection event after he asked for help during a dinner Wednesday. While his district is likely to reelect a Republican, Zeldin reportedly cited his concerns over a tough election in 2018 when asking for Jordan’s help.
The request comes after Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) decided to cancel his appearance at a November fundraiser for Zeldin, after the New York Republican voted against the House version of the tax-reform bill.
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Zeldin cited the bill’s exclusion of the state and local tax deduction, a key provision for his constituents in the highly taxed state.
Though a person close to Ryan said the speaker would still back Zeldin in his 2018 campaign, they said Ryan showing up to help fundraise for a member who opposed the historic tax overhaul would be “inappropriate.”
“I don’t think that’s appropriate — what leadership did,” Jordan told Politico. “All I know is I like Lee. I think he’s a good member, a very smart member. And he asked if I could come and I worked on our schedules. And said ‘OK, I’ll do, I’m happy to do it.’ ”
Jordan will speak at the event along with former White House strategist Stephen Bannon, the Breitbart News executive who supports Zeldin and has backed outsider GOP candidates such as Roy Moore of Alabama for Senate.