Jim Jordan Elected House Republican Leader After Midterm Defeat

On Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Jim Jordan was elected as the leader of the Republicans in the US House of Representatives, defeating fellow conservative Steve Scalise. Jordan, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, won the secret ballot with 106 votes to Scalise's 73. This puts him in charge of the party's opposition to the incoming Democratic majority. Jordan is a founding member of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus and has pitched himself as the fighter Republicans need to confront Democrats.

Jordan's victory represents a rejection of the party's established leadership, with Scalise having served in senior Republican positions for over a decade. Both men are staunch Trump allies, but the president declined to endorse either candidate. The contest was a rematch of their 2023 battle for the speakership following the ouster of Kevin McCarthy. Scalise initially won the Republican nomination but withdrew after failing to secure sufficient support.

Jordan, a former champion wrestler, has represented Ohio in Congress since 2007. He built his reputation as a political brawler and fierce critic of the Republican establishment. Former speaker John Boehner once branded him a "legislative terrorist" for his uncompromising tactics. Jordan also emerged as a leading defender of Trump during congressional investigations into the president's attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.

The election of Jordan as House Republican leader comes after Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress in last week's elections. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced he was stepping down from leadership after the midterm defeat. Senate Republicans, meanwhile, reelected John Thune as their leader, retaining their existing leadership team despite demands from conservatives for a reckoning over the election losses.

Thune's reelection as Senate Republican leader came after conservative lawmakers temporarily stalled proceedings, demanding a clearer strategy for confronting the incoming Democratic majority. Thune pledged to work with Trump and oppose Democratic efforts to enact what he called their "far-left, liberal agenda." He will become Senate minority leader in January.

Jordan's election as House Republican leader is seen as a significant shift to the right for the party. As a member of the House Freedom Caucus, Jordan has been a vocal advocate for conservative causes. His leadership style and tactics have been praised by Trump and other conservatives, but criticized by moderates and Democrats.

The Republican party is now faced with the challenge of opposing the incoming Democratic majority in both the House and Senate. With Jordan as their leader, the party is likely to take a more hardline stance on key issues. The midterm elections marked a significant defeat for Republicans, and the party is now undergoing a period of introspection and reorganization.

Key points

• Jim Jordan's election as House Republican leader marks a significant shift to the right for the party.
• Jordan's leadership style and tactics have been praised by Trump and other conservatives, but criticized by moderates and Democrats.
• The Republican party is now faced with the challenge of opposing the incoming Democratic majority in both the House and Senate.