House Republicans Elect New Minority Leader After Midterm Defeat

House Republicans will meet behind closed doors on Tuesday to elect a new minority leader via secret ballot. The election follows a midterm defeat in which Democrats flipped more than 40 GOP seats to regain the majority. Mike Johnson announced he will step down from leadership and forgo a bid for the minority leader position.

The contest features two candidates with contrasting strategies: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Representative Jim Jordan. Scalise advocates for a conservative and consensus-driven approach to win back the majority. Jordan, a co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, proposes an aggressive posture, arguing that offense is the only way to win elections. This race serves as a rematch of the 2023 leadership fight, and Donald Trump is expected to wield significant influence over the outcome.

Other leadership transitions are occurring across Congress. Majority Whip Tom Emmer and Conference Chair Lisa McClain face challenges for their positions in the House. In the Senate, Majority Leader John Thune is running for minority leader, though some senators have called for delaying the vote. Meanwhile, Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer are positioned as favorites to become House speaker and Senate majority leader, respectively, as Democrats prepare to assume control.