Ohio Rep Jim Jordan elected House GOP minority leader

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio won the role of House Republican minority leader on Tuesday.

Jordan secured the position with 106 votes against 73 for his opponent, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana. The vote was held by the 179 Republican members elected to the next Congress. Jordan, 62, currently chairs the House Judiciary Committee and co-founded the House Freedom Caucus, which he led in its first term. The result positions him to guide the party as it transitions into the minority following the midterm elections.

Scalise, 61, had served as party whip and majority leader since 2014. He faced Jordan in a leadership contest more than three years ago after Rep. Kevin McCarthy was removed from the speakership. Neither candidate won that vote, leading to the selection of Rep. Mike Johnson, who is stepping aside for the new term. Scalise highlighted his fundraising success in his bid, noting he raised $67.9 million for the recent midterms. About one-third of that total went to individual House campaigns and the National Republican Congressional Committee. Jordan countered that his experience in committee oversight makes him better prepared to challenge the administration.

Jordan told party members that the new leadership should expect heavy Democratic oversight and numerous investigations. He stated that the party must focus on offense rather than defense to win elections in 2028. Scalise emphasized his resilience, pointing to his recovery from a 2017 shooting and a 2023 diagnosis of multiple myeloma. President Donald Trump remained out of the race, allowing the members to choose their leader without direct executive input.

Other leadership positions are still up for election. Reps. Tom Emmer of Minnesota and August Pfluger of Texas are competing for the whip position. Three candidates are vying for conference chair: Reps. Lisa McClain of Michigan, Erin Houchin of Indiana, and Greg Steube of Florida. The candidates presented their cases to the caucus in the morning before the afternoon secret ballot.

The Democratic Party will hold its leadership elections next week. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is expected to become the next House speaker, a role that would make him the first African-American to hold the office. Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts is expected to become the next majority leader, which would make her the first woman to serve in that position. The incoming Republican conference will now work under the direction of Jordan as they prepare to oppose the Democratic majority in the new session.