Jim Jordan elected House Republican minority leader with 106-73 vote
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Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio won the House Republican conference vote to become minority leader, signaling a shift toward a more conservative approach for the GOP in the 120th Congress.
Republicans in the House elected Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio as their minority leader for the 120th Congress, with the vote tally reported as 106-73. The result was disclosed by two lawmakers and a GOP aide who asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to release the numbers.
Jordan's victory places him at the forefront of the party’s effort to regroup after last week’s significant electoral defeats. He campaigned on a more conservative, hard-charging style that aligns closely with President Donald Trump’s agenda, suggesting the GOP will double down rather than moderate its stance.
While Jordan presented himself as a change agent, he emphasized continuity with Trump rather than a break from the former president’s policies. His approach is expected to focus on resisting Democratic investigations into the Trump administration and opposing bipartisan legislative initiatives.
During a candidate forum, Jordan told fellow Republicans that the party must “give space and grace” to members voting according to their districts.
The vote also marked the end of Rep. Steve Scalise’s tenure in GOP leadership after more than a decade. Scalise, who has served in various leadership roles and survived a serious shooting injury in 2017, will return to rank-and-file status.
Rep. Mike Johnson, who was selected as speaker earlier this year, declined to run for the minority leader position and offered a brief statement on the transition:
"My plan is here. We’re focused on finishing the 119th strong. We’re going to do that. I’m still in charge here till early January, and we’re going to do our duty. And after that, my commitment and my objective is to help my team ensure that the Republican Party has a very successful 120th Congress. And we’ll see how all that develops, and that’s my commitment."
Jordan, a former Tea Party champion and founding member of the Freedom Caucus, has recently sought to broaden his appeal within the party while maintaining his conservative credentials. His election signals that House Republicans intend to pursue a more confrontational posture in the coming Congress.