Who is Rep. Jim Jordan’s favorite liberal? The answer might surprise you.

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana. Getty Images photo

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana. Getty Images photo

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan is known for being one of Congress’ most conservative members, but in an Ohio Politics interview he acknowledged he met one of his favorite liberals in Washington, D.C.

Jordan, R-Urbana, said former Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Cleveland, was “one of my best friends when he was in Congress.”

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“I mean, literally, he’s a friend,” Jordan said. “He thinks I’m crazy, I think he’s crazy, but when we can agree — and we could on issues — we’d work together.”

Kucinich left Congress in 2013. He ran an unsuccessful campaign this year for the Ohio Democratic nomination for governor.

“Dennis is a super nice guy, and he’s the kind of guy you’d call up and say you need a favor, and he’d give you the shirt off his back,” Jordan said. “He’s really a good guy.”

Kucinich and Jordan shared some similar views during the financial crisis.

“Dennis and I voted against bailing out the big banks, we worked on some other issues together, so I try to do that,” Jordan said. “But where I tend to work with Democrats is on civil liberties.”

Jordan said he has recently worked with Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, on a federal shield law that would protect journalists from disclosing confidential sources.

Raskin, Jordan said, is a “big-time liberal democrat from Maryland, but a good guy, (who) asked me if I could co-sponsor, and I said sure, let’s do it.”

Jordan said he is working with Rep. Ted Lieu, D-California, on facial recognition protections and encryption policy.

Contact this reporter at 937-259-2086 or email Will.Garbe@coxinc.com.

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