Republican · Ohio's 4th District · 2026
Jim Jordan
Jordan's wrestling career began at Graham High School, where he won four state championships, and continued with two NCAA titles at Wisconsin.
Biography
At Graham High School, Jim Jordan lost just one match in a wrestling career that produced four Ohio state championships.1 He grew up in rural Champaign County and later won two NCAA Division I wrestling championships at the University of Wisconsin in 1985 and 1986.1 He and his wife, Polly, have four children and grandchildren.2
Jordan earned an economics degree at the University of Wisconsin, a master's degree in education at Ohio State and a law degree at Capital University.3 He also worked as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State.1
Before entering Congress in 2007, Jordan served in both chambers of the Ohio legislature.4 He helped found the House Freedom Caucus and became its first chairman.3 He now chairs the Judiciary Committee and serves on the Oversight Committee.3 President Donald Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2021.4
Jordan's published positions emphasize lower taxes, reduced federal spending and scrutiny of government agencies.5 He favors education policy shaped primarily at the state and local levels, with parents having greater discretion over their children's schooling.5 On immigration, he supports stronger border security and enforcement and opposes amnesty.5 He also advocates expanding domestic oil and gas production while developing alternative energy sources.5 The November ballot also includes Democrat Joshua Kolasinski and Tracey Tackett.6
Record and controversies
Ohio State abuse allegations
Former Ohio State wrestlers have accused Jordan, an assistant wrestling coach at the time, of knowing about team doctor Richard Strauss's sexual abuse and failing to act.7 Jordan has repeatedly denied knowing about the abuse; his office said in 2025 that he would have acted if he had known.7 He was questioned under oath in July 2025 in former athletes' lawsuit against the university.7
The university's 2019 independent report documented coaches' knowledge of complaints, but said investigators could not conclusively determine every allegation about what particular coaches knew.8 The investigators said their job was to reach factual findings, rather than legal conclusions.8
In June 2026, the university's trustees approved a $100 million settlement in principle, and plaintiffs' counsel said it covered 279 of 280 remaining claimants.9.10 In October 2026, WOSU reported ongoing mediation and possible additional payments to earlier claimants.11 An individual court liability finding against Jordan was not verified in this review.
Campaign reporting penalty
In July 2022, the FEC accepted an agreement with Jim Jordan for Congress and its treasurer in his official capacity over failure to disclose about $1.23 million in receipts and spending accurately and on time.12 The campaign agreed to a $60,000 civil penalty, and an FEC memorandum recorded receiving its payment.12 The campaign said its new treasurer had found amounts reported in incorrect periods and voluntarily amended the reports.12 Its earlier response described rebuilding an inadequate accounting system and correcting previous filings.13 The FEC closed the case.14
Late stock disclosure
Jordan's January 14, 2026 filing reported his spouse's October 27, 2025 sale of Central Bancshares stock, valued between $50,001 and $100,000.15 NOTUS described the disclosure as late and said his office did not answer its questions for the May 2026 report.16
A subsequent penalty or an explanation for the delay was not verified in this review.
Subpoena ethics referral
In December 2022, the January 6 select committee referred Jordan to the House Ethics Committee for failing to comply with its subpoena.17 In his May 25, 2022 letter, he contested the subpoena's constitutionality, said it lacked a legitimate legislative purpose, challenged the panel's compliance with House rules and requested documents and legal analysis before further responding.18
A resulting disciplinary sanction was not verified in this review.
Affiliated groups' donation complaint
In May 2026, Campaign Legal Center filed an FEC complaint alleging misreporting and an improper $250,000 federal contractor contribution involving GEO Group, the American Liberty Foundation political committee and the nonprofit American Liberty Action Fund.19 A 2025 FEC filing listed the Foundation and Jordan's campaign as participants in Team Jordan's joint fundraising arrangement.20 Jordan was not named as a respondent.19 GEO said its company account paid the nonprofit Action Fund and that the political committee's filing was incorrect.21 POGO's May 2026 report said Jordan's office and group officers had not answered requests for comment.21
A later agency ruling or a personal role by Jordan in soliciting the contribution was not verified in this review.