WASHINGTON, D.C.: Republicans chose firebrand Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio as their new nominee for speaker of the United States House of Representatives during internal voting on Friday, putting the gavel within reach of the staunch ally of Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump.

Electing Jordan, a founding member of the far-right Freedom Caucus, to the position that is second in line to the presidency would move the Grand Old Party's (GOP) far right into a central seat of US power. A groundswell of high-profile backers, including Fox News' Sean Hannity, publicly pressured lawmakers to vote Jordan into the speaker's office after its former occupant, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, was booted out.