House GOP to vote on minority leader as Scalise, Jordan seek top spot
Lawmakers cast secret ballots Tuesday afternoon to pick a new leader, with other key positions also up for grabs.
By Tessa Cooper ·
House Republicans met Tuesday morning to select their next leader in the minority, a vote expected to conclude by the afternoon. The two candidates are House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio.
The contest marks a shift in power after Democrats won a majority in the midterms. The winner will lead a historically small Republican conference while President Donald Trump serves his final two years. Analysts note that returning to a House majority in 2028 will be a difficult task given the scope of the recent losses.
This is not the first time Scalise and Jordan have faced off. Both men ran for speaker more than three years ago after Kevin McCarthy was ousted. Neither secured enough support at that time, and the position eventually went to Mike Johnson. Johnson is now stepping aside from leadership in the new Congress.
Scalise, 61, has held key leadership roles since 2014. He survived a shooting during a charity baseball practice in 2017 and was treated for multiple myeloma in 2023. In a letter to colleagues, he emphasized his readiness to lead on Day One and his fundraising success. He stated he raised $67.9 million for the midterms, with about a third going to individual House campaigns and the National Republican Congressional Committee. 'In competitive districts, every dollar counts and those resources are critical to winning back the majority,' Scalise said.
Jordan, 62, co-founded the House Freedom Caucus and has chaired the Judiciary Committee for four years. He pitched an aggressive strategy to counter expected Democratic investigations of the Trump administration. 'Our job cannot be merely to spotlight how radical this new Democratic Party is, offense, not defense, wins elections,' Jordan said. He added that he is battle-tested on the oversight front and understands the Democratic playbook.
Colleague reactions have been mixed. Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland backed Jordan, citing the need for a new team and a strong communicator. Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania supported Scalise, preferring a leader who focuses on legislation and appropriations. Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas described the race as very close, noting that some members want a fresh start while others trust Scalise to lead them back to power. Outgoing Speaker Mike Johnson said he would not dictate the outcome, urging members to make their own decisions.
Other leadership positions are also being filled. Reps. Tom Emmer of Minnesota and August Pfluger of Texas are vying for the whip position. Three candidates are seeking the conference chair role: Reps. Lisa McClain of Michigan, Erin Houchin of Indiana, and Greg Steube of Florida. The vote is being conducted by secret ballot.
Democrats will hold their own leadership elections next week. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is expected to become the next House speaker, becoming the first African American to hold that title. Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts is expected to become the next majority leader, a first for a woman in that role.
