Jim Jordan Elected House Republican Leader Over Steve Scalise

House Republicans have elected Jim Jordan, a congressman from Ohio, as their leader, defeating Steve Scalise in the contest. Jordan will serve as minority leader in the new Congress that begins next year, according to The Guardian. The minority leader is the top post for the party that does not control the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Congress.

Scalise currently serves as majority leader, the second-ranking job for the party that holds the House. The leadership change follows an announcement by House Speaker Mike Johnson, the chamber's presiding officer, that he would not remain in leadership after his party suffered defeats in the midterm elections.

Jordan was first elected to the House in 2006 and chairs the House Judiciary Committee, which handles legislation on the justice system and immigration, among other matters. He also helped found the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative Republicans, in 2015, and served as its first chair.

Jordan has held a leadership position before. In 2023, after Kevin McCarthy was removed as Speaker, Jordan briefly sought the job himself, but his bid collapsed for lack of support among colleagues.

Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna publicly backed Jordan for the leadership post. The vote came days after Donald Trump named Stephen Miller as his chief of staff.