House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on November 4, 2026, that he will not run for House minority leader in the next Congress after Democrats won control of the House in the midterm elections. Johnson's decision triggers a leadership battle, with House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan announcing his candidacy and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise expected to run ahead of a scheduled November 10 election. The defeat has sparked open recriminations within the Republican conference, with members pointing blame at President Donald Trump and candidate selection.
Candidates emerge for House minority leader
- ▪Representative Jim Jordan's leadership pitch emphasizes that new leadership is needed and that he specializes in congressional oversight and investigations
- ▪House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan announced he is running for House minority leader following Mike Johnson's decision not to seek the role
- ▪House Majority Leader Steve Scalise is expected to announce a campaign for House minority leader for the next Congress
Republicans assign blame for election losses
- ▪White House adviser Alex Bruesewitz blamed ineffective candidates for Republican losses, specifically citing Representative Mike Collins's failed Senate campaign in Georgia
- ▪Following the November 3, 2026 midterm election defeat, several Republicans publicly blamed President Donald Trump and his style for the party's losses
North Carolina 9th congressional district race
- ▪National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Richard Hudson lost his reelection bid to Democrat Richard Ojeda
- ▪Democrat Richard Ojeda's election victory in North Carolina's 9th congressional district makes him the first Democrat to represent the district since 1963
Mike Johnson's tenure as House Speaker
- ▪Throughout his tenure as House Speaker, Mike Johnson managed a slim Republican majority marked by internal party division over government funding and the war in Iran
- ▪Mike Johnson became Speaker of the House in October 2023 following the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy
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