Two of the House Republican Party’s most prominent lawmakers have launched bids to lead the GOP conference after Speaker Mike Johnson announced he would step aside from leadership following Tuesday’s midterm election losses.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., are competing to become the next House Republican leader as the party prepares to surrender control of the chamber to Democrats.
The leadership battle comes after Republicans suffered significant setbacks in Tuesday’s elections, losing their majorities in both the House and Senate.
Johnson announced Wednesday that he would not seek the House minority leader position in the next Congress, opening the door for two of the GOP’s most recognizable figures to pursue the job.
Fox News reported that Jordan and Scalise were the first two Republicans to enter the race following Johnson’s decision.
The development sets up another potentially contentious leadership contest within the Republican conference, which has experienced several internal battles over its leadership in recent years.
Jordan, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, has established himself as one of the most outspoken conservatives on Capitol Hill.
As chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, the Ohio Republican has spearheaded investigations into the Biden administration, federal law enforcement agencies and allegations of government misconduct.
🚨 JUST IN: JIM JORDAN and STEVE SCALISE are running for House GOP Minority Leader, Mike Johnson is NOT — Punchbowl
Senate Leadership election is also coming up, and John Thune is expected to seek that position as well
Republicans have a LOT of work to do drawing the contrast and repairing for 2028.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 4, 2026
Jordan has also been a prominent advocate for tougher immigration enforcement, reduced federal spending and greater oversight of federal agencies.
His leadership bid marks another attempt to secure one of the most powerful positions in the House.
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Following former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s removal in October 2023, Jordan pursued the speakership but failed to secure enough votes from Republican lawmakers to win the gavel.
Scalise, meanwhile, enters the contest with extensive experience managing the Republican conference.
The Louisiana Republican served as House majority leader under both McCarthy and Johnson, positioning himself as a central figure in the party’s legislative operations.
He previously served as House minority whip and majority whip, developing relationships with Republican lawmakers across different factions of the conference.
Scalise also sought the speakership following McCarthy’s removal, initially defeating Jordan in an internal Republican nomination contest.
However, he ultimately withdrew after failing to secure sufficient support to win a full House vote.
Now, the two Republicans are once again competing for the party’s top leadership position, this time as the GOP prepares to operate in the minority.
The stakes extend beyond an internal Republican power struggle.
With Democrats preparing to control both chambers of Congress, the next House Republican leader will play a critical role in coordinating the party’s opposition to Democratic legislation.
The position will also carry significant responsibility for defending Trump’s administration against congressional investigations and oversight efforts.
Although Republicans lost control of Congress, Donald Trump remains in the White House and retains his constitutional authority, including the power to veto legislation.
That dynamic could make cooperation between the president and House Republican leadership particularly important during the final two years of Trump’s second term.
Jordan and Scalise bring different political strengths to the contest.
Jordan has built his reputation through congressional investigations and his relationships with conservative lawmakers, while Scalise has spent years overseeing legislative strategy and navigating internal party negotiations.
The leadership election will also give House Republicans an opportunity to determine how they intend to respond to their midterm losses and approach the next election cycle.
Mike Johnson‘s decision not to seek the minority leader position marks a significant change for the conference after he spent three years navigating narrow Republican majorities and frequent internal disagreements.
His departure from the leadership race leaves Republicans facing a choice between two lawmakers who previously competed for the speakership.
