Private lunches, campaign stops and $10 million dangled as a carrot...how Trump ally Jim Jordan could be secretively plotting to take Speaker Mike Johnson's top job

Mike Johnson's speakership is safe, for now. 

But there's no guarantee the Louisiana Republican who launched up four spots in the leadership rung for the top job will last through next conference, say his detractors. 

Other conservative heavyweights already seem to be quietly moving to position themselves for a leadership shakeup, particularly Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan. 

The Ohio Republican, whose star power shot up with the rise of Donald Trump, ran for speaker before Johnson. He gave up when it was abundantly clear the 'never-Jordan' cadre of House Republicans would remain obstinate: 22 still opposed him for speaker on the second ballot on the House floor. 

Prior to Jordan being elected House GOP speaker nominee and trying his hand on the floor, Majority Leader Steve Scalise had beat him out for the nomination.

Other conservative heavyweights already seem to be quietly moving to position themselves for a leadership shakeup, particularly Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan.

He'd run into a similar conundrum: right-wing anti-establishment lawmakers who continued to vote for Jordan even though he wasn't the nominee. While Jordan publicly supported Scalise, behind the scenes he made no moves to encourage his own devotees to do the same. 

But since then he's seemingly made amends with some of his moderate detractors, criss-crossing the country for fundraisers and town halls for members from across the Republican spectrum. 

'If you wait for when a position comes open to prepare yourself for it, then you're waiting too long. So I think he's fulfilling that narrative,' one GOP member told DailyMail.com.

'It doesn't surprise me. That's what you do if you're thinking there might be a chance you could do it.' 

Earlier this month Johnson told reporters he plans to lead the House GOP 'in the future' and has already begun to make plans for next Congress.

'The most important thing that we have to do right now is govern the country well,' Johnson said on May 8. 'We have plans for the next Congress, and we have outlined a lot of that. Right now, it's all hands on deck, all hands on the wheel. … I'm honored to be able to do that. I expect I'll be doing that in the future.' 

Jordan's team to be clear, is staying coy about what he's angling for. 'Jordan is focused on the important work he is doing as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, growing the majority and supporting Mike Johnson as the leader of our conference,' Jordan spokesman Russell Dye said.

'I'm for the speaker, I've been clear about that,' Jordan told DailyMail.com when asked if he'd support Johnson next Congress. 

One senior House GOP aide said their boss, who runs in a more pragmatist circle, was taken aback when Jordan invited them to lunch out of the blue.  

The Ohio Republican, whose star power shot up with the rise of Donald Trump , ran for speaker before Johnson

Jordan has raised eyebrows by handing out campaign checks to colleagues - not just those in his inner circle. 

Jordan has close to $10 million on hand, and has offered over $200,000 to dozens of different Republicans' campaigns so far this cycle. 

Since campaign season began heating up late last year, Jordan has criss-crossed the country for town halls and fundraisers for at least 34 members from across the ideological spectrum. 

He's worked with Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a 'never Jordan' member during Jordan's first run for speaker, on getting Bacon's bill passed last week - the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act. 

Jordan recently did a fundraiser for Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in her home state of Iowa - even after she revealed she'd gotten death threats for opposing his speaker bid. 

Jordan did a tele-townhall for Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who also opposed his bid and is facing a tough primary where a number of his conservative colleagues have endorsed against him.

'I don't remember this level of outreach from him before,' said another GOP member. 'He could be up to something.'  

Jordan has held events with moderates like Rep. John Duarte, R-Calif., and Tom McClintock, R-Calif., leadership members like Johnson and Gary Palmer and conservatives like Cory Mills, R-Fla., and Keith Self, R-Texas. 

He's avoided appearing alongside burn-it-all-down conservatives who support motion to vacate or tank rule votes to advance the speaker's agenda. 

But if Republicans keep the majority in the House, Jordan would have an uphill battle to the speakership: he'd have to win over not just a majority of Republicans but a majority of House members overall. 

'It's gonna be difficult [for Jordan] as speaker,' one member said. 'I would say he's probably a favorite for a minority leader, it only takes a simple majority.'

'Jordan will have a better chance next Congress, especially, if GOP loses the majority, as swing seat members, most adverse to Jordan, are first in line lose re-election as well as old guard members such as Kay Granger who are retiring and won't be voting in conference,' said one senior GOP aide with ties to the anti-Jordan cohort. 

'In many ways, Jordan and his allies want to be in the minority so they can challenge Johnson.'

'I think he will continue to be the chairman of the Judiciary,' said Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., a close Jordan ally. 'But to be honest if he's running for a leadership position I'm the whip of it.' 

He brushed off those who are reading into Jordan propping up members across the conference, noting Jordan came out to California to campaign for him when Issa retired and then later ran in another district.  

'People forget he's always reached out to people, he's always given money done events for people,' said Issa. 'I think a lot of people miss the fact that he was kind of one of those who didn't care who got the credit.' 

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., agreed. 'He's always been good about helping people out,' he told DailyMail.com. 'In fact I might have to give him a call because if he's giving out campaign dollars I haven't gotten any!'  

'He's been working on appealing to the 20 who remained steadfast in supporting other candidates in October-- both on a personal and political level. It wouldn't surprise me if he was playing behind the scenes to make inroads for a potential speakership,' said another staffer close to the anti-Jordan members.   

But such members suggest their opposition to Jordan isn't going anywhere. 

Some members see Jordan as the 'Matt Gaetz of 10 years ago,' others were horrified by the death threats some members got when they opposed his bid for speaker.

Rep. Drew Ferguson, R-Ga., a close Scalise ally who got death threats for opposing Jordan, praised the Ohio Republican and insisted he was supportive of Johnson. 

'We're glad when committee chairs or senior members do stuff to help all of our members. I'm most thankful that Jim Jordan has been incredible in his support of leadership and his backing of Mike Johnson. It shows we're a unified team.' 

'Some people want [Jordan for speaker] but they're very myopic sometimes,' said Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C. 'Everybody's always jostling but this whole change the leader because you don't like something, it is absolutely destructive.'