House Republicans elect Jim Jordan minority leader over Steve Scalise

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) was elected House minority leader Tuesday, defeating House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, (R-LA), 106-73, according to lawmakers in the room. Jordan takes over when the new Congress convenes Jan. 3, 2027

Jim Jordan wins. The next House GOP leader. 106-73 was vote, per sources

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 10, 2026

Jordan will lead Republicans in the House minority after Democrats’ victories in the midterm elections cost the GOP control of the chamber.

Outgoing Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana announced he would not seek the minority leader position after Republicans’ losses. Johnson, who became speaker in 2023 after Kevin McCarthy was ousted, had led a narrow GOP majority and worked closely with Trump. His decision followed criticism of the party’s election performance and of his leadership’s close alignment with the president.

Jordan, a co-founder of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, is known as one of President Donald Trump’s most outspoken congressional allies. He defended Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 election results and has helped lead congressional investigations into the president’s political opponents. Jordan’s leadership signals that Republicans may focus on aggressively challenging the incoming Democratic majority and defending Trump from congressional scrutiny.

Jordan has also faced allegations that he knew about sexual abuse at Ohio State University and failed to intervene while serving as an assistant wrestling coach there. In the HBO documentary Surviving Ohio State, released in June 2025, former wrestlers and a wrestling referee said Jordan knew about physician Richard Strauss’s abuse and did not act. The allegations concerning Jordan’s knowledge became public in July 2018. An independent investigation commissioned by Ohio State and released in May 2019 found that Strauss sexually abused at least 177 male students. Jordan has repeatedly denied knowing about the abuse

Jordan beat Scalise, a longtime member of House GOP leadership who emphasized his legislative experience and fundraising operation. The contest reflected a choice between maintaining established leadership and elevating a more combative conservative voice. Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) publicly backed Jordan, citing the need for a new team and a strong communicator. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) supported Scalise, arguing that legislative and appropriations experience mattered more.