House Republicans pick Jim Jordan over Steve Scalise, 106-73, to lead them in the minority next year

WASHINGTON (Nov. 11) — House Republicans on Tuesday chose Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio to lead them in the next Congress as they head into the minority, picking the House Judiciary Committee chairman over Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana in a 106-73 secret-ballot vote, The Associated Press reported.

Jordan, 62, will succeed Speaker Mike Johnson as the top House Republican when the new Congress begins in January, NPR reported. The vote was held behind closed doors, and two Republican lawmakers in the room gave the tally to NBC News.

The race pitted two longtime rivals against each other. Jordan and Scalise have jockeyed for leadership posts for more than a decade, and both tried unsuccessfully to become speaker in 2023, The Washington Post reported. Jordan co-founded the House Freedom Caucus and served as its first chairman, according to the AP.

Jordan pitched himself to colleagues as a fighter who could defend President Donald Trump against Democratic investigations and win back the majority, Axios reported. He has served on both the Oversight and Judiciary committees, two panels NPR said are poised to play a central role as Democrats plan investigations into the Trump administration.

The leadership vote came a week after a midterm election in which Democrats flipped more than 40 Republican-held House seats, according to NPR. Other members of the current team held on: Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota and Conference Chair Lisa McClain of Michigan both won their races, Axios reported.

On the Senate side, Republicans kept Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, who did not face a challenger and will become minority leader in January, the Post reported.