Jim Jordan elected as House Republican minority leader

On November 11, 2026, House Republicans elected Jim Jordan as their new minority leader following the party’s significant losses in the midterm elections. In a closed-door vote, the Ohio representative and current chair of the House Judiciary Committee secured 106 to 107 votes, defeating his challenger, Steve Scalise, who received 73 votes.

The election marks a shift in leadership strategy as the Republican Party prepares to navigate its role as the minority in the next session of Congress. Jordan, a prominent ultra-conservative figure known for his focus on fiscal austerity and strict immigration policies, will face off against the incoming Democratic leadership, led by Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to assume the speakership of the House.

This leadership transition follows the decision of outgoing Speaker Mike Johnson not to seek a position in the new minority leadership team. The move is widely interpreted as a response to demands for party renewal and a more assertive stance against the Democratic agenda following the recent electoral defeat.