Jim Jordan Elected House Republican Leader, Defeating Steve Scalise 106-73 as GOP Prepares for Minority

House Republicans have elected Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio to lead their party in the next Congress, choosing the conservative firebrand over Majority Leader Steve Scalise in a closed-door, secret-ballot vote on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. Jordan won 106 votes to Scalise's 73, according to the Associated Press and multiple outlets that confirmed the tally.

Jordan, 62, will become the top House Republican — the minority leader — when Democrats take control of the chamber on January 3, 2027, following their victories in the 2026 midterm elections. It is a remarkable rise for a lawmaker who built his career antagonizing party leaders, and it puts one of President Donald Trump's staunchest defenders in charge of the Republican opposition for the final two years of Trump's term.

The vote: 106-73 behind closed doors

The election was held in a closed-door meeting of Republicans who will serve in the next Congress, in the Capitol Visitor Center, and the vote was by secret ballot under conference rules for contested leadership elections. Jordan defeated Scalise, the outgoing House majority leader, who had pitched himself as the more experienced and logical choice for the role. The announced tally accounts for 179 votes; because the ballot was secret, no public record shows how any individual member voted.

House Republicans also elected current Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota to serve as Minority Whip in the next Congress, keeping the party's vote-counting operation in familiar hands. Votes for conference chair and other posts were also expected.

Who is Jim Jordan?

Jordan has represented Ohio's 4th congressional district since 2007 and is now in his 10th term. He co-founded the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus and served as its first chairman, and he has chaired the House Judiciary Committee since January 2023. He sought the speakership in October 2023, but withdrew after failing to win the post in three rounds of voting on the House floor.

As Judiciary chairman, Jordan has led Republican investigations into the Justice Department and the FBI, and he has been one of Trump's most visible defenders in Congress. His election as leader signals that House Republicans intend to fight Democratic investigations aggressively rather than seek accommodation with the new majority.

What changes in January

The leadership vote does not change who runs the House today. Speaker Mike Johnson remains speaker in the current Congress; he announced he would not seek a leadership position in the next Congress after the midterm losses. When the 120th Congress convenes on January 3, 2027, Democrats are expected to elect current Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries as speaker, and Jordan will take over a party that can organize opposition and bargain with Democrats but will no longer control the House floor or chair its committees.

That shift matters because Democrats have promised a wave of investigations into the Trump administration. Jordan's job will be to hold a diminished conference together, defend the White House against Democratic probes, and position the party for the 2028 elections — all from the minority, where his main tools will be messaging, floor tactics and the Judiciary Committee's minority staff.

Why the choice matters

Jordan's victory over Scalise was also a choice about the party's direction. Scalise, who has served in leadership for more than a decade, argued that experience and relationships across the conference made him the safer pick. Jordan's supporters argued the moment calls for a fighter. The 106-73 margin — decisive but not a landslide — suggests the conference is united behind Jordan's combative style, even as a substantial minority preferred Scalise's steadier hand.

The result also completes the reshaping of House Republican leadership after the midterms. With Johnson stepping aside and Scalise defeated, the party's top two posts in the next Congress will be held by Jordan and Emmer — a leadership team built for opposition, not for governing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who did Jim Jordan defeat for House Republican leader?

Outgoing Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana. Jordan won the closed-door secret ballot 106-73 on November 10, 2026.

When does Jordan take over as minority leader?

January 3, 2027, when the 120th Congress convenes and Democrats take control of the House.

Who will be Speaker in the next Congress?

Democrats are expected to elect Hakeem Jeffries as speaker. Mike Johnson remains speaker in the current Congress until then.

What is Jim Jordan known for?

Jordan co-founded the House Freedom Caucus, chairs the House Judiciary Committee, and is one of President Donald Trump's staunchest defenders in Congress.

References

• Associated Press — Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio elected to lead House Republicans in the minority (Nov 10, 2026)
• The Hill — Jim Jordan wins battle to lead House Republicans (Nov 10, 2026)
• NBC News — Republicans reeling from election choose leadership for next Congress (Nov 10, 2026)
• Fox News — Jim Jordan becomes new House GOP leader after closed-door vote, defeating Steve Scalise (Nov 10, 2026)