Johnson steps aside as Jordan and Scalise bid for GOP minority leader

Summarised from 6 outlets · 8 reports · Updated 4 Nov, 15:52 · Archive

House Speaker Mike Johnson has announced he will not seek to lead House Republicans as minority leader after Democrats won control of the chamber.

House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Wednesday morning that he will not seek to lead House Republicans as minority leader after the party lost control of the chamber in Tuesday's midterm elections. Multiple sources confirmed that Johnson made the announcement during a call with staff. Democrats are projected to take control of the House with a wide majority, marking a sweeping reversal for the Republican party.

The decision clears the way for other Republicans to campaign for the role. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, has begun calling colleagues about leading the GOP minority. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a Louisiana Republican who serves on Johnson's leadership team, has also indicated he intends to run for the top spot. Scalise's pitch to colleagues emphasizes his decade-long experience in House GOP leadership and his ability to unite Republicans and prepare for legislative and oversight battles.

Jordan has spent six years as the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, where he has clashed with Democrats who are expected to lead investigations into the Trump administration. Prior to this race, Jordan ran for House speaker in October 2023 but failed to secure the necessary support. Scalise also previously sought the speakership in 2023 and did not advance to a House-wide vote.

Winning the minority leader position is considerably easier than becoming speaker. Minority leaders need only secure more than 50 per cent support from their own party members, whereas the speakership requires a majority of all 435 House members. Republicans plan to hold their leadership elections on 10 November.

Johnson's rise to the speakership in October 2023 came after weeks of chaos following former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's historic ouster. He was the party's fourth nominee after other candidates failed to unite various Republican factions. Johnson had governed one of the slimmest majorities in the House's recent history, and in recent interviews had suggested uncertainty about his political future, at one point mentioning the possibility of starting a lawn business if Republicans lost control.

Johnson is expected to remain in Congress despite stepping down from leadership. The Democratic takeover gives the opposition party control of subpoena power and is expected to lead to multiple investigations into the Trump administration and the president's personal affairs.

How it is being reported

• Mike Johnson says he will not pursue House minority leader role – reportsReported move from the Republican speaker of the House comes in light of the party’s disastrous midterms defeat US midterms 2026 live – latest updates Tell us: what do you want to know about the midterm election results? Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House, has said he is not planning to pursue the role of minority leader once his party loses its majority in the chamber, according to multiple reports. Coming in light of Republicans’ disastrous midterm defeat, Johnson’s decision effectively yields the position of highest ranking Republican in the House to whichever member of his…Guardian World · 4 Nov, 15:36
• Speaker Mike Johnson to not seek reelection as House Republican leader after Democratic takeoverThe decision has been made following Tuesday’s midterm electionsIndependent World · 4 Nov, 15:30
• Mike Johnson won't seek new term as House GOP leader after lossesHouse Speaker Mike Johnson told staffers that he will not run for minority leader in the new Congress, according to a source familiar with the matter.CBS News · 4 Nov, 15:16
• Mike Johnson won’t run for minority leader after Republicans lose House majorityHouse Speaker Mike Johnson told his staff Wednesday that he will not vie to be minority leader in the next session of Congress after Republicans suffered a generational midterm wipeout, a source told The Post.New York Post · 4 Nov, 15:14
• Speaker Mike Johnson won't run for leadership spot after brutal Republican losses… and first controversial contender stakes claim on powerHouse Republican Speaker Mike Johnson has announced that he will not be seeking the post of Minority Leader after harrowing losses for his party in November's midterm elections.Daily Mail · 4 Nov, 15:09
• Mike Johnson's No 2 launches GOP takeover bid as House falls to DemocratsProminent House Republicans Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan are likely heading for a brutal battle over who will be Trump's top defender as minority leader.Fox News · 4 Nov, 14:29
• Mike Johnson not running to lead House GOP after historic midterm lossesMike Johnson revealed on an all-staff call he will not lead House Republicans in the next Congress as Jim Jordan mounts a minority leader bid.Fox News · 4 Nov, 14:10
• Jim Jordan throws hat in ring for House minority leader as GOP picks up pieces after blue waveJim Jordan is calling GOP colleagues about leading House Republicans as minority leader, potentially setting up a clash with Speaker Mike Johnson.Fox News · 4 Nov, 13:26

In this story: Jim Jordan · Mike Johnson · Steve Scalise · Donald Trump · Kevin McCarthy · House Republicans · House Democrats · United States House of Representatives

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