WASHINGTON — House Republicans chose Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan on Tuesday to serve as minority leader in the upcoming Congress, elevating one of Donald Trump’s staunchest allies to head their conference following sweeping defeats in the midterm elections.
Jordan won a closed-door secret ballot vote over current House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana by a tally of 106 to 73, sources in the room told Fox News Digital. Loud applause erupted inside the room when the result was announced, the outlet reported. The change at the top comes as Democrats secured decisive majorities in both the House and Senate, stripping Republicans of the chamber gavel they held under historically narrow margins.
“Over the next two years, House Republicans will fight for American families,” Jordan told reporters following the meeting, according to The Guardian US. “When Democrats offer more government, we’ll offer more freedom, and we will bring that fight in committee, on the floor, and on the stump every single day.”
A shakeup in Republican leadership
The leadership contest was triggered after House Speaker Mike Johnson announced he would not pursue a leadership post in the upcoming Congress following last week’s election losses. Johnson has not yet committed to completing the remainder of his term, The Guardian US reported.
Despite stepping aside, Johnson praised his successor. “Jim was a mentor of mine when I first came to Congress 10 years ago, and we worked alongside one another all these years,” Johnson said, as reported by The Guardian US. “He’s always been regarded as a leader by the conference, and he’s going to do an extraordinary job.”
Other leadership races were also settled Tuesday behind closed doors. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota held onto the number two post, winning the minority whip election against Texas Rep. August Pfluger by a vote of 103 to 76, sources told Fox News Digital. Michigan Rep. Lisa McClain survived a challenge to retain her position as Republican Conference chairwoman, the network reported.
Across the Capitol, Sen. John Thune won re-election on Tuesday as the Senate Republican leader. Thune released a statement saying the Republican team remains unified in advancing conservative goals alongside Trump while resisting the Democratic agenda, The Guardian US reported.
Shifting party dynamics
Jordan, who was first elected to the House in 2006, helped launch the conservative House Freedom Caucus in 2015 and served as its inaugural chairman. As chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, he spearheaded investigations into prosecutors who probed Trump, while previously defending the former president during his first impeachment proceedings and investigating Hunter Biden, The Guardian US noted.
Some lawmakers openly argued that the party needed a fresh direction after losing control of the chamber. Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna supported Jordan and criticized Scalise’s approach, telling reporters that the party should not reappoint officials who oversaw an unsuccessful strategy, according to The Guardian US.
Ohio Rep. Warren Davidson told Fox News Digital that while he liked Scalise, Jordan had risen outside the traditional leadership hierarchy through effective advocacy. Wisconsin Rep. Scott Fitzgerald also told Fox News Digital that Jordan’s communication skills were unmatched among House colleagues.
Democrats criticized the outcome, arguing that the selection signaled a move toward further partisan confrontation. Virginia Rep. Don Beyer argued that Republicans failed to heed the message from voters and instead promoted their most combative figures to top positions, The Guardian US reported.
What happens next
When the new Congress convenes in January, Jordan will be tasked with organizing the House GOP’s defense against expected Democratic inquiries into Trump’s second administration, including probes directed at Cabinet nominees and personal business affairs, news reports noted. Republicans will also face the challenge of countering an assertive Democratic legislative agenda from the minority.
