Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio elected to lead House Republicans in the
minority
[November 11, 2026]
By KEVIN FREKING
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio won the race Tuesday to serve
as House Republican leader as the party prepares for its new role in the
minority and a flurry of Democratic investigations aimed at its
standard-bearer in the White House.
Jordan, who serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee,
defeated Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana in a secret-ballot election of
Republicans who will serve in the next Congress. The vote was 106-73.
Jordan, 62, is a co-founder of the ultraconservative House Freedom
Caucus and served as its first chairman. His candidacy appealed to those
looking for new leadership in the wake of last week’s election debacle
and to those who like his hard-hitting political style.
“The way that Jim fights says a lot about where this conference is,”
said Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., who nominated Jordan to serve as minority
leader.
Jordan will inherit a historically small House Republican conference
that is only beginning to grapple with its loss of power as President
Donald Trump serves out his final two years in office. Leading the party
back to the House majority in 2028 is sure to be a stiff climb, given
the scope of Democratic victories in the midterms.
In brief remarks to reporters after his win, Jordan said Republicans
would focus on fighting for American families over the next two years.
“When Democrats offer more government, we'll offer more freedom,” Jordan
said. “We will bring that fight in committee, on the floor and on the
stump every single day.”
Scalise and Jordan were a familiar match-up
Jordan and Scalise came to Congress together two decades ago. They both
ran to serve as House speaker after Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the
job in 2023. Neither was able to rally the support necessary to secure
the position, which eventually went to Mike Johnson, who is stepping
aside from the leadership in the new Congress.
Scalise, 61, has held key GOP leadership positions going back to 2014,
serving as party whip and then as majority leader. In 2017, he was
critically wounded when a gunman opened fire at a baseball practice
where several Republican lawmakers and staffers were preparing for an
annual charity baseball game against Democrats. In 2023, he was stricken
with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that was successfully treated.
“Overcoming adversity is nothing new to me,” Scalise said in his pitch
to colleagues.
He also emphasized his fundraising prowess, noting he raised $67.9
million for this year's midterms, with about a third of that going
directly to individual House campaigns and the National Republican
Congressional Committee.
But the majority of Republicans opted for Jordan, who emphasized his
experience battling with Democrats in committee rooms. Jordan served as
the top Republican on the House oversight panel before he became the
lead Republican on the committee six years ago. That experience proved
popular with his colleagues.
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Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, speaks with reporters after his election as
House Republican leader, as Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., and Rep. Lisa
McClain, R-Mich., listen, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, on Capitol Hill in
Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
“Instead of focusing on the people, it seems that the entire
objective for Democrats is going to be targeted investigations,”
said Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla. “And Jim Jordan knows about
weaponization.”
Fewer moderates left among House Republicans
Scalise's backers liked his experience getting legislation over the
finish line. And Scalise edged Jordan in a similar secret-ballot
vote three years ago in the race to succeed McCarthy, though neither
would end up getting the job.
But as a result of the election last week, the House Republican
conference is smaller, with a disproportionate number of moderates
and swing-district lawmakers retiring or voted out. Many of those
returning were hungry for a new leader.
“We're a significantly more conservative conference than we were,”
Mast said.
Democrats argued that Jordan's selection indicated that Republicans
took the wrong lesson from the election loss.
"I would think that they would want somebody that was going to
moderate towards what the voters want. They lost so many Republican
voters," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash. “Obviously that's not
the case.”
“The House Republican caucus clearly chose the more extreme
candidate,” said Rep. Ted Lieu of California and vice chair of the
House Democratic caucus. “Hopefully, he'll work with Democrats.
We'll see what happens.”
Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota was elected as the Republican whip, the
No. 2 position in the leadership hierarchy. He beat out Rep. August
Pfluger of Texas for the job. Rep. Lisa McClain of Michigan won
reelection to serve as conference chair, the No. 3 position.
Democrats will hold their leadership elections next week
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is expected to become the next
House speaker, the first African American to hold the job, and Rep.
Katherine Clark of Massachusetts is expected to become the next
majority leader. She would be the first woman to hold that position.
___
Associated Press writer Joey Cappelletti contributed to this report.
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