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Jim Jordan wins leadership of US House Republicans after midterm defeat

US House Republicans chose Jim Jordan over Steve Scalise to lead their conference after losing their majority in the midterm elections. The Ohio congressman and close Donald Trump ally is due to take the minority leadership in January. His selection puts a combative Judiciary Committee chairman at the head of the party’s response to expected Democratic oversight.

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Side-profile view of Jim Jordan addressing House Republican colleagues at a wooden table inside a US Capitol conference room.

Republicans choose their next minority leader

Jim Jordan, a Republican congressman from the US state of Ohio, defeated Steve Scalise in a secret party ballot on November 10. House Republicans selected him to lead their conference in the next Congress, when they are due to occupy the minority benches. Scalise currently serves as majority leader.[1], [2]

The choice follows the party’s loss of its House majority in the midterm elections a week earlier. In those elections Jordan’s party lost at least 40 seats to Democrats nationwide. The new Congress begins in January, transferring control of the chamber and its legislative and oversight agenda to the Democrats while Republicans reorganise their leadership.[1]

The internal vote ended 106–73, giving Jordan the victory over Scalise. Mike Johnson had announced that he would not seek a leadership position in the incoming Congress. The outgoing speaker congratulated Jordan after the conference made its choice.[2]

Jordan promises a united response to Democrats

Before the vote, Jordan wrote to colleagues promising to keep their conference united and coordinate its response to Democratic tactics. The immediate political backdrop includes expected investigations of Donald Trump’s administration. Republicans are also approaching the competition to choose a presidential nominee for 2028, alongside the work of opposing a Democratic House majority.[1]

Jordan is a close Trump ally and has served in Congress since 2007. He helped found the House Freedom Caucus, a conservative grouping of Republican representatives. He currently chairs the House Judiciary Committee, a position from which he has pursued investigations framed around his allegation that government power was used against Trump.[1]

A former speaker contender takes the group leadership

The Judiciary Committee’s targets under Jordan have included former special counsel Jack Smith and Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis. His leadership bid follows an earlier unsuccessful attempt to become House speaker after Kevin McCarthy’s removal in 2023. Since that episode he has worked more closely with Mike Johnson and the Republican leadership. Tuesday’s ballot assigns the party’s internal leadership for its time in opposition; the selection was made by Republican representatives rather than the full House.[1]

References

  1. News sourceAl JazeeraJim Jordan elected to lead House Republicans in the minority↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5
  2. News sourceRoll CallJim Jordan elected to lead House Republicans in the minority↩1↩2
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