House GOP selects Jim Jordan to lead opposition after losing 40 seats
The hardline Ohio representative defeated Majority Leader Steve Scalise in a 106-73 vote, positioning himself to rebuild the party under a new Democratic majority.
By Grace Almasi ·
House Republicans voted 106 to 73 on Tuesday to name Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan as their next minority leader. The result cements a leadership overhaul following the party's loss of more than 40 House seats in the midterm elections held last week. Sources familiar with the tally confirmed the final count to CBS News.
Jordan, a hardline conservative and close ally of President Trump, replaces Steve Scalise in the top leadership role. The selection signals a shift in strategy for a conference now preparing to operate as the smaller party in a chamber controlled by Democrats. The vote marks a decisive break from the previous leadership structure that guided the party through its final years of majority status.
The party's internal dynamics shifted sharply after Speaker Mike Johnson decided to step down from leadership. Johnson has remained noncommittal about his long-term future in Congress since the announcement. His departure opened the path for a new leadership contest that Jordan won decisively.
Both candidates sought the speaker position after Kevin McCarthy was removed in 2023, a period marked by weeks of instability. Neither Jordan nor Scalise could unify the party's factions at that time. Johnson, then a little-known conservative without prior leadership experience, secured a unanimous conference vote to become speaker. That unexpected victory defined the current era of Republican leadership.
Jordan helped found the conservative House Freedom Caucus and has chaired the Judiciary Committee since 2023. In his candidacy letter, he argued that the party needs a clear plan to survive against an "emboldened and energetic Democratic majority." He described himself as "battle-tested" and criticized the previous approach of operating without a long-term strategy.
Scalise, a Republican from Louisiana, has held leadership roles since 2014. He served as majority and minority whip before becoming majority leader in 2023. His career has faced personal trials, including critical injuries from a 2017 shooting at a congressional baseball practice and a 2023 diagnosis of multiple myeloma. He announced remission several months after beginning treatment. In his letter to colleagues, he noted that overcoming adversity is "nothing new" to him.
The conference now turns its attention to organizing its opposition strategy. Jordan will assume the minority leader role in the next Congress, tasked with directing the party's legislative agenda and internal coordination under the new numerical reality.
