House Republicans snub Steve Scalise as party leader in next Congress

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans voted behind closed doors Tuesday to elect Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio as their leader after the party’s stunning losses in the midterm elections, the House Republican Conference announced.

It was a 106-73 vote, according to a House Republican staff member.

Jordan will succeed House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, who declined to run again. 

The incoming Republican minority leader will be charged with growing the party’s seats after the House GOP lost more than 40 after last week’s elections. 

Jordan will also be tasked with fundraising for his party, and negotiating with Democrats on must-pass legislation, such as appropriations bills. But with the smallest Republican House minority since the 1990s, the GOP will have little sway in a chamber dominated by the majority party. 

A handful of House races are still too close to call, but The Associated Press has called 166 seats for Republicans and 255 for Democrats for the incoming 120th Congress.

Jordan, who has served in the House for two decades, chairs the House Judiciary Committee but has not held a senior GOP leadership position.

Jordan is a staunch defender of President Donald Trump. He was a founder of the House Freedom Caucus of far-right GOP members. 

Jordan was up against Louisiana Republican Rep. Steve Scalise, the current Republican majority leader. 

Cheers could be heard outside the closed door meeting following the vote. 

Jordan and Scalise ran for speaker in 2023 after Republicans voted to strip then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy of his role. Scalise bowed out of that race before a House vote and Jordan failed to garner enough votes for the speaker’s gavel. 

Republicans also reelected Minnesota’s Tom Emmer as GOP whip, according to the House Republican Conference.

This is a developing story and will be updated.