Jim Jordan Elected House GOP Minority Leader

House Republicans on Tuesday elected Rep. Jim Jordan as the incoming minority leader for the 120th Congress after Republicans suffered massive losses in last week’s midterm elections.

Jordan defeated outgoing Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., in a closed-door, secret-ballot election. The final tally was 106-73.

“Over the next two years, House Republicans will fight for American families. Democrats offer more government. We will offer more freedom,” Jordan said after the hourslong process.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., announced last week he would not seek a leadership post in the new Congress, which will be seated on Jan. 3.

“He’s going to do an excellent job. He’s a good, trusted friend and brother,” Johnson said of Jordan after his win.

The incoming minority conference also selected other leaders on Tuesday. Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota held off a challenge from Texas Rep. August Pfluger to become minority whip in January. In the day’s only three-way race, conference Chair Lisa McClain of Michigan defeated Reps. Erin Houchin of Indiana and Greg Steube of Florida to keep her spot. Rep. Brian Jack of Georgia defeated Rep. Rudy Yakym of Indiana in the race to lead House Republicans’ campaign arm.

As of Tuesday, House Democrats hold a 254-166 margin over Republicans going into the 120th Congress with 15 races still undecided.

Jordan echoed Trump’s false claims of fraud in the 2020 election, and championed the investigation of Hunter Biden during Joe Biden’s final two years in office. Since Trump returned to the White House, Jordan has used his role as judiciary committee chair to pursue allegations of “weaponization” by prosecutors who investigated Trump, including Jack Smith, the special counsel who oversaw the federal cases.

Democrats decried Jordan’s appointment as sign that the party was doubling down on extremism, with Virginia congressman Don Beyer noting that Jordan’s election came days after Trump had named immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as his chief of staff.

“Republicans learned absolutely nothing from what happened a week ago, and are responding by elevating their most extreme voices to positions of power,” Beyer said.

In the Senate, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota will remain as the party’s leader despite some in his conference delaying the vote while they discussed the results of the midterm elections and the party’s path forward. Senate Republicans on Tuesday afternoon approved Thune by acclamation to remain the conference’s leader in the minority.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.