House Republicans elected Rep. Jim Jordan as their next leader Tuesday, putting one of President Donald Trump’s fiercest allies in charge of rebuilding the party after last week’s bruising midterm losses.
The Ohio Republican defeated House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, 106-73, in a closed-door, secret-ballot election, according to the Washington Examiner.
Jordan will succeed Mike Johnson as the top House Republican when the new Congress convenes in January, serving as minority leader as Democrats take control of the chamber.
His victory gives the conservative fighter a breakthrough three years after his unsuccessful bid for speaker and puts him at the center of the coming battles over Trump’s agenda.
Jordan, the House Judiciary Committee chairman and a co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, campaigned on the need for Republicans to sharpen their message and prepare for Democrats’ planned investigations into the administration.
In a Nov. 4 letter announcing his candidacy, Jordan argued that highlighting Democrats’ policies would not be enough to win back the majority. Republicans, he wrote, must restore voters’ confidence in their ability to deliver.
He also criticized the conference’s approach to governing, calling for a more active leadership team and a coordinated strategy to confront the incoming Democratic majority.
“I am battle-tested on the oversight front and I know the Democrats’ playbook,” Jordan wrote.
Johnson opened the leadership race last week when he announced he would not seek to remain the party’s leader in the next Congress following Republicans’ loss of the House.
POLL: Will America Regret Giving The Democrats Power?
🚨 BREAKING: JIM JORDAN has officially been elected US House Minority Leader for the Republicans, achieving more votes than Steve Scalise, per multiple reports
Now is the time to rise to the challenge of taking everything back in 2028, @Jim_Jordan!
WE HAVE TO WIN. https://t.co/sNa86PD78z
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 10, 2026
Scalise entered the contest with more than a decade of leadership experience, pitching his legislative record and fundraising operation as assets in the effort to reclaim the majority.
Jordan offered colleagues a change at the top, drawing on his reputation as a combative conservative and longtime Trump defender.
The matchup revived their rivalry from the chaotic 2023 fight to replace ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Scalise initially defeated Jordan for the Republican speaker nomination but withdrew before a floor vote after failing to secure enough support to win the gavel.
Jordan subsequently became the nominee but fell short in three House floor votes. Republicans eventually rallied behind Johnson.
Now Jordan will lead the conference into the minority, facing the twin challenges of defending Trump’s agenda and positioning Republicans to win back the House in 2028.
