WASHINGTON — House Republicans will hold closed-door leadership elections on Tuesday to select their new minority leader, as the party grapples with its losses in the midterm elections and prepares for Democratic control of the chamber in January.
Two candidates vie for the top GOP post in the House. Current Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio are competing to replace outgoing Speaker Mike Johnson, who announced he would not seek to remain in leadership. The election will be conducted by secret ballot, with candidates making their cases to colleagues before a vote in the afternoon. A majority of the Republican conference—88 votes—is required to secure the position.
The race reflects competing visions for the party’s future. Scalise, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, has positioned himself as a unifying figure capable of consolidating factions against Democrats, framing his approach as "conservative and consensus-driven." Jordan, a co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, has emphasized his experience in oversight investigations, arguing he is best positioned to counter Democratic probes into Trump and his allies. Both men ran unsuccessfully for speaker in 2023 after Kevin McCarthy’s ouster.
Leadership contests extend beyond the top post. In the race for minority whip, current Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota faces a challenge from August Pfluger of Texas, chairman of the Republican Study Committee. The conference chairmanship race is also contested, with current chair Lisa McClain of Michigan facing challenges from Greg Steube of Florida and Erin Houchin of Indiana. All elections will be held behind closed doors.
The outcome will shape the GOP’s strategy in the 119th Congress. Republicans lost more than 40 seats in the midterms, handing Democrats control of the House. Party leaders have framed the leadership elections as a chance to rebuild and regain voter trust. Former House Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry noted the process would "become a larger, external conversation about the direction of the Republican Party."
Senate Republicans will also hold leadership elections, with John Thune of South Dakota seeking to retain his post as minority leader. Democrats, meanwhile, are expected to confirm Hakeem Jeffries of New York as their House minority leader on Wednesday, though some progressive members have signaled dissent without naming an alternative candidate.
Key details of the process:
- Voting: Secret ballot, majority required for victory.
- Timeline: Candidate forums begin at 9 a.m. ET; votes in the afternoon.
- Scope: Only House Republicans (including non-voting delegates) may participate in the conference vote. The minority leader election does not require a full House vote.