Breaking: Jim Jordan elected House GOP minority leader, beats Scalise

House Republicans on Tuesday elected Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio to serve as their next minority leader, choosing the Judiciary Committee chair over current Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana after bruising midterm losses. The closed-door leadership election marks a major shakeup for the conference, with Jordan’s win confirmed by multiple outlets including CBS News, CNN, Fox News Digital and ABC News.

The vote was 106 to 73, according to sources who spoke to CBS News, ABC News and Fox News Digital. The Associated Press also reported the result as 106-73, and Politico said two people present for the tally gave the same count. It follows Republicans’ loss of more than 40 House seats in last week’s midterms, which leaves the GOP in the minority next year, CBS News reported.

Related: Democrats win Congress: what changes for Trump and Jeffries and Hegseth calls impeachment push a 'farce' as House action nears.

How did the vote go?

The election took place behind closed doors by secret ballot, with votes cast by sitting House Republicans and GOP members-elect projected to win their races in last week’s contests, according to Fox News Digital. The reported tally — 106 for Jordan to 73 for Scalise — was relayed by sources to CBS News, ABC News and Fox News Digital. The Associated Press reported the same 106-73 result, and Politico said two people present for the tally confirmed that count. Fox said loud, sustained applause could be heard in the hallway when Jordan’s win became official.

Ahead of the vote, the candidates addressed colleagues in a Tuesday morning forum where both emphasized unity and said members would have room to “vote their districts,” Fox News Digital reported. Questions focused on how to bring the conference together after the defeats and how to handle leaks, according to Fox. Jordan said the forum went well but did not share closed-door details. Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio told Fox News Digital he personally likes Scalise but favored a change, saying Jordan “basically rose through the ranks because he was super effective.” Rep. Scott Fitzgerald of Wisconsin told Fox that Jordan “understands what we’re up against,” adding, “His ability to communicate is really kind of unrivaled by anybody else in the House right now.”

Who is Jim Jordan?

Jordan, a hardline conservative and close ally of President Trump, has chaired the House Judiciary Committee since 2023 and helped start the House Freedom Caucus, CBS News reported. A former wrestling coach, he has long been one of Trump’s most stalwart defenders, according to CNN. Fox said he is poised to be Trump’s top defender in Congress next year as Democrats prepare investigations targeting Trump’s Cabinet, family and business interests, while CNN reported Democrats plan a robust oversight agenda focused on the Trump White House.

In a letter to colleagues obtained by CBS News, Jordan argued Republicans need a clearer strategy in the minority. “For too long, we have operated without a clear plan to survive the hour or the day in front of us. That will not cut it against an emboldened and energetic Democratic majority,” he wrote, calling himself “battle-tested.”

Why did Republicans pass over Scalise?

Scalise has been a fixture in GOP leadership since 2014, serving as majority and minority whip before becoming majority leader in 2023, CBS News noted. He was critically injured in a 2017 shooting at a congressional baseball practice and later announced a multiple myeloma diagnosis in 2023 before saying he was in remission, CBS reported. In a letter to colleagues, he acknowledged the difficult moment: “This is no doubt a challenging time for our conference, but overcoming adversity is nothing new to me,” according to CBS. CNN reported he told members he would look for ways to work with Democrats to advance Republican priorities.

Choosing Jordan over Scalise is a rejection of the status quo that many Republicans believe cost them the election and a sign Trump remains central to the party “at least for now,” CNN reported. A person familiar with Jordan’s thinking told CNN: “[Trump] is still the leader of our party,” and, of Democrats, “They have the numbers, they don’t need us. We need to be uniting as a team.”

What happens to Mike Johnson?

House Speaker Mike Johnson is stepping down from leadership after the GOP’s losses, CBS News reported. Fox News Digital said the magnitude of the defeats forced his announcement that he would not seek another leadership post for the next two years. CBS added that Johnson has been noncommittal about his long-term future in Congress.

What we know

• Jordan defeated Scalise in a secret-ballot conference election to become minority leader (CBS, ABC, Fox, CNN).
• The tally was 106-73, according to sources cited by multiple outlets (CBS, ABC, Fox, AP, Politico).
• Republicans suffered 40-plus House seat losses in the midterms and will be in the minority (CBS).
• CNN says the GOP conference will be more conservative next year after moderates were wiped out.

What we don't know yet

• Whether the conference will release an official tally; the 106-73 result is per sources and is also reported by AP and Politico.
• Public statements from Jordan or Scalise after the vote; none have been reported as of this update.
• A post-vote statement from President Trump. PBS News reported he had not publicly weighed in before the vote, and no reaction has been reported since.
• Whether Scalise will pursue another leadership role.
• Outcomes of other House GOP leadership races, the final House seat count, whether Johnson stays in Congress, or the exact date the new Congress convenes.

What's next

Jordan will lead House Republicans in the minority when the new Congress begins in 2027. CNN reports Democrats plan robust oversight of the Trump White House, while Fox News Digital says Jordan is expected to serve as Trump’s top defender on Capitol Hill. After midterm losses that CBS News described as “crippling,” Republicans signaled a desire for a different approach heading into the next Congress. NewsCubby will update as more details emerge about the GOP leadership slate and organizational plans for the minority.

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*Photo: Rep. Jim Jordan, official 114th Congress portrait (2015). U.S. Congress, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.*

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| Time (s) | Image | Creator / license | Source | |---|---|---|---| | 0.0-3.3, 30.7-36.6 | Rep. Jim Jordan, official portrait (2015) | U.S. Congress — Public domain (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-USGov) | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jim_Jordan_official_photo,_114th_Congress.jpg | | 3.3-6.3 | U.S. House chamber (2017) | U.S. House of Representatives — Public domain (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-USGov) | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_States_House_of_Representatives_chamber.jpg | | 6.3-11.3 | U.S. Capitol, west front | Architect of the Capitol — Public domain (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-USGov) | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:United_States_Capitol_west_front_edit2.jpg | | 11.3-14.2 | Rayburn House Office Building (2019) | dconvertini — CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/) | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rayburn_House_Office_Building_2.jpg | | 14.2-19.3 | Jordan at a Judiciary hearing (2026) | U.S. Department of Homeland Security — Public domain (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-USGov) | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:House_Committee_on_the_Judiciary_Hearing_(55131310293)(cropped).jpg | | 19.3-22.2 | Steve Scalise speaking in Las Vegas (2023) | Gage Skidmore — CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/) | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Steve_Scalise_(53301486496).jpg | | 22.2-25.9 | Rep. Steve Scalise, official portrait (2017) | U.S. Congress — Public domain (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-USGov) | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Steve_Scalise_official_portrait.jpg | | 25.9-28.6 | Speaker Mike Johnson, official portrait (2024) | U.S. Congress — Public domain (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-USGov) | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Speaker_Mike_Johnson_Official_Portrait.jpg | | 28.6-30.7 | Jim Jordan speaking in Phoenix (2021) | Gage Skidmore — CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/) | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jim_Jordan_(51769862077).jpg |

**Thumbnail/cover:** Rep. Jim Jordan official portrait (2015), U.S. Congress, public domain (PD-USGov), via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jim_Jordan_official_photo,_114th_Congress.jpg). Cropped, dark panel, text and NewsCubby logo added.

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