Jim Jordan elected House Republican minority leader over Steve Scalise

Candidate	Votes	Current Role	Key Pitch
Jim Jordan	106	Judiciary Committee Chairman	Oversight experience, combative style
Steve Scalise	73	Majority Leader	Fundraising ($67.9M), unity, legislative record

The election came one week after what multiple outlets described as a historic Democratic wave. NBC News projects Democrats will secure roughly 260 House seats — the largest majority in 35 years — while ABC News reported a 254-166 margin with 15 races undecided as of Tuesday. The drubbing cost Republicans dozens of moderate and swing-district members, leaving a conference that Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., described as "significantly more conservative than we were." Jordan's victory completes a remarkable ascent for a lawmaker who once clashed openly with Republican speakers. First elected in 2006, the former NCAA champion wrestler helped launch the Freedom Caucus in 2015 and pressured Speaker John Boehner toward resignation that same year. He challenged Kevin McCarthy for minority leader in 2018 and lost 159-43. After McCarthy's ouster in October 2023, both Jordan and Scalise sought the speakership but failed to reach 218 votes on the House floor; Johnson, then a little-known vice chairman of the GOP conference, emerged as the compromise choice. Johnson announced last Wednesday he would not seek the minority leader post, opening the two-way race. In a letter to colleagues, Jordan wrote: "Our job cannot be merely to spotlight how radical this new Democratic Party is, offense, not defense, wins elections." The conference also elected Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota as minority whip, and reelected Rep. Lisa McClain of Michigan as conference chair over challenges from Reps. Erin Houchin of Indiana and Greg Steube of Florida. Democrats are expected to elevate Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York to speaker, the first African American to hold the post, and Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts to majority leader, the first woman in that role. NBC News reports Jeffries projects 259 Democratic seats, enough to absorb roughly 40 defections and still reach the 218 votes needed on the House floor January 3. Jordan takes the helm with an immediate test. The House was scheduled to vote Tuesday evening on a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, filed by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. The measure has been referred to the Judiciary Committee, which Jordan chairs. Republican leaders want to sideline it, but sources in both parties said the outcome depends on attendance. Senate Republicans took a different path. After a "frank" closed-door meeting Tuesday, the conference suspended its leadership election rather than vote. Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota faces no announced challenger, but a group led by Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., pressed for delay. "A week ago, we had the worst election result in decades," said Sen. David McCormick, R-Pa. "We need a discussion about what went wrong." The Senate GOP ultimately re-elected Thune, John Barrasso of Wyoming as whip, and Tom Cotton of Arkansas as conference chair by acclamation. More than 30 Republican National Committee members had urged both chambers to delay leadership elections for at least a month. "There is no way to sugarcoat what happened on Election Day," the RNC letter read. "These devastating losses are historic, and they threaten to undo all the work of the last 10 years." House Republicans declined. Jordan's selection points toward a minority strategy built on oversight combat rather than legislative negotiation. Democrats have signaled plans to investigate the Pentagon's conduct of the Iran war, the dismissal of senior military officers, and military strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats. Jordan built his reputation through oversight fights when Republicans were last in the minority and through investigations when they held the majority. Until then, Johnson remains speaker. "I'll finish this up as speaker, wrapping up the assignment all the way through January till the new Congress takes their oath of office on Jan. 3rd," Johnson told reporters Tuesday, calling Jordan a "trusted voice" and "honest broker" who will do an "extraordinary job." What to watch next: - House Democratic leadership elections next week; Senate Democrats meet in early December - January 3 speaker vote: Jeffries needs 218 on the floor; Jordan's conference unity will be tested - Hegseth impeachment resolution: procedural vote Tuesday, possible articles vote Wednesday - Senate GOP leadership vote rescheduling; whether Thune faces a late challenger - 2028 cycle: Jordan and Emmer tasked with rebuilding a majority from a historically small conference

Media additions

House Republicans elect Rep. Jim Jordan as their next leader following election losses