Jim Jordan wins House Republican leadership after party’s election defeat

Jim Jordan has been chosen to lead Republicans in the US House of Representatives, taking charge as the party responds to a bruising midterm election loss. The Ohio congressman defeated fellow conservative Steve Scalise in a secret ballot, with US media reporting a vote of 106 to 73. Jordan, a close ally of Donald Trump and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, is set to lead the Republican opposition to the incoming Democratic majority. He replaces Mike Johnson, who said he would step away from party leadership after Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress in last week’s elections. A founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, Jordan presented himself as the fighter Republicans needed for the next two years. His win over Scalise, who had held senior party positions for more than a decade, was described as a rejection of established leadership. Trump did not endorse either candidate, according to the report. The result revived memories of the pair’s 2023 contest for House speaker. Scalise initially secured the Republican nomination but withdrew when he could not gather enough support. Jordan then lost three votes on the House floor before Mike Johnson became the compromise choice. Jordan has represented Ohio in Congress since 2007. A former champion wrestler, he built a reputation as a forceful critic of the Republican establishment and a staunch defender of Trump during congressional investigations into the former president’s efforts to challenge his 2020 election defeat. In the Senate, Republicans re-elected John Thune as their leader, despite conservative lawmakers calling for a reassessment after the election losses. Thune said he valued an open discussion with colleagues and pledged to work with Trump while opposing the Democrats’ agenda. The leadership decisions mark the party’s first steps in shaping its response to the incoming Democratic majority.