House Republicans schedule leadership elections for November 10

House Republicans have scheduled internal leadership elections for November 10, 2026, just one week after Election Day. Candidates must declare by November 6, preceding candidate forums and votes for positions including leader, whip, and conference chair. The schedule arrives as forecasts project Democrats are favored to reclaim the House majority. Speaker Mike Johnson maintains he intends to remain conference leader regardless of midterm results, though GOP staffers float Reps. Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan as alternative options if Republicans enter the minority.

House Republican leadership election schedule

• ▪House Republicans scheduled a noon November 6, 2026 candidate declaration deadline, candidate forum, and November 10, 2026 leadership voting, one week after Election Day, to select party leaders for the upcoming Congress
• ▪If Republicans retain their House majority in the 2026 midterms, a full House floor vote for Speaker of the House will take place on Jan. 3
• ▪House Republicans scheduled events in the Capitol Visitor Center Auditorium for November 11 and November 12, 2026, to vote on conference rules and the steering committee makeup
• ▪The House Republican leadership elections on November 10, 2026, will cover positions including party leader, whip, conference chair, and other junior posts

Mike Johnson's plans after midterms

• ▪Speaker Mike Johnson floated returning to Louisiana if Republicans lose the U.S. House of Representatives in an interview with Fox News, though his spokesperson pushed back on speculation that he would leave Congress
• ▪Speaker Mike Johnson stated to CBS News that he intends to remain leader of the House Republican conference even if Republicans lose the House majority in the 2026 midterms

Potential leadership challenges

• ▪GOP lawmakers, aides, and staffers identified House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan as alternative House minority leader contenders to Speaker Mike Johnson if Republicans lose their 2026 midterm majority
• ▪GOP lawmakers and aides noted that a push to support a leader other than Speaker Mike Johnson could emerge if Republicans suffer major midterm losses