House Republicans are gearing up for a significant battle over leadership as Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise compete for the position of minority leader following a disappointing election outcome.
With Speaker Mike Johnson opting to step down, Republicans are tasked with choosing between Scalise, a veteran of GOP leadership, and Jordan, known for his aggressive confrontations with Democrats.
The winner will be charged with the vital role of revitalizing the GOP’s presence in the House as Democrats assume control during President Trump’s last two years in office.
This rivalry brings back memories of the 2023 Republican race to replace the ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, where both Scalise and Jordan sought the gavel, ultimately leading to Johnson’s selection.
Scalise, representing Louisiana, boasts over a decade of leadership experience, having first been elected in 2008 and serving as majority leader since 2023.
He survived a serious shooting incident in 2017 that left him critically injured and later battled multiple myeloma, now in remission.
On the other hand, Jordan, from Ohio, is well-known for his dynamic role in high-stakes committee debates and his solid support of Trump. Since entering Congress in 2007, he has held key positions in both the Oversight and Judiciary Committees.
Jordan, a two-time NCAA wrestling champion, initially sought the position of Speaker in 2023 but was unable to garner sufficient support.
The Republican assembly is set to kick off with a candidate forum at 9 a.m., followed by leadership votes from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Voting will occur via secret ballot, with the new Congress members casting their votes, excluding retiring or defeated lawmakers.
Results are anticipated to be announced by Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain.
This race for minority leader is amidst a wider array of leadership elections within the House GOP.
Majority Whip Tom Emmer faces a challenge from Rep. August Pfluger for the minority whip position, set to be the No. 2 spot in the conference.
McClain is also contending for her chairwoman role against Indiana’s Erin Houchin and Florida’s Greg Steube, which ranks third among House Republicans in the minority.
Reps. Brian Jack of Georgia and Rudy Yakym of Indiana are competitors for the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the GOP’s House campaign arm.
Conversely, the House Democrats are preparing for their leadership elections on November 18 and 19, with their top lawmakers running unopposed.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., is expected to gain nomination for speaker, with Representative Katherine Clark aiming for majority leader and Rep. Pete Aguilar for majority whip.
If elected, Jeffries would make history as the first Black speaker when the new Congress commences on January 3, 2027.
All deliberations around the speakership will require a majority vote, needing 218 votes if all 435 members participate.
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are also facing leadership elections, though some have suggested postponing until further review of the party’s midterm defeats.
It remains uncertain if this tactic will alter the scheduled voting.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune currently leads alongside Majority Whip John Barrasso and Republican Conference Chairman Tom Cotton, with no major shifts anticipated ahead of the elections.
