House Republicans Pick Jim Jordan Over Steve Scalise as Next GOP Leader
House Republicans on Tuesday chose Rep. Jim Jordan as their next leader, turning to one of President Donald Trump's staunchest allies after the party's heavy losses in the midterm elections.
The Ohio Republican defeated House Majority Leader Steve Scalise in a secret-ballot election held behind closed doors, winning 106 votes to Scalise's 73.
Jordan will succeed House Speaker Mike Johnson as the party's leader in January. Because Democrats will control the House in the next Congress, he will serve as minority leader.
Jordan currently chairs the House Judiciary Committee and is a co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus. He has been one of Trump's most outspoken defenders on Capitol Hill.
READ MORE: Speaker Mike Johnson Won't Run for Minority Leader After Republicans Lose the House
A Fighter for the Minority
His reputation as a combative conservative helped set him apart from Scalise's more traditional leadership style, and his win puts him at the center of Republican efforts to push back against the incoming Democratic majority.
In a Nov. 4 letter announcing his candidacy, Jordan urged Republicans to rebuild voters' confidence. He argued that pointing to Democratic policies alone would not be enough to win back the House, and that Republicans needed to show they can deliver results.
"I am battle-tested on the oversight front and I know the Democrats' playbook," Jordan wrote.
He also called for a coordinated strategy to respond to the investigations Democrats are expected to launch into the Trump administration once they take over the chamber.
Johnson Steps Aside
Johnson announced last week that he would not seek another term as the Republican leader after sweeping midterm losses handed Democrats control of the House. His decision opened the door to a contest between Jordan and Scalise.
Scalise pitched his legislative experience and fundraising operation as reasons to choose him, while Jordan offered colleagues a change in leadership after the party's defeat.
READ MORE: Jim Jordan Launches Bid for House Minority Leader After GOP Loses the Majority
A Rematch From 2023
The race was a rematch of sorts. The two men competed for the speakership in 2023 after Kevin McCarthy was removed from the job.
Scalise initially beat Jordan for the Republican nomination for speaker but withdrew after failing to line up enough support to win a floor vote. Jordan then became the nominee but fell short in three straight floor votes before Republicans eventually united behind Johnson.
This time, Jordan came out on top. He now inherits a Republican conference preparing for its first stint in the minority since Trump returned to office, and he faces the task of uniting members after a painful election night.
Democratic leaders have made their plans clear. Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become speaker in January, has said Democrats will pursue accountability across the administration, and Robert Garcia, the likely next chairman of the House Oversight Committee, issued a two-word warning after the election: "Lawyer up."
That sets up Jordan, a veteran of hard-fought oversight battles, as the Republicans' chief counterweight to the new majority's investigations when the next Congress convenes.
Democrats are already preparing to use their new majority to investigate the Trump administration. Jordan has stressed that Republicans must sharpen their message and prove they can govern if they hope to win the House back.