Defeated in a midterm wave that handed Democrats a historic House majority, House Republicans picked Ohio Representative Jim Jordan as their minority leader on Tuesday, elevating a pugilistic firebrand who has spent nearly two decades as a conservative bomb-thrower.
The 120th Congress, set to convene on January 3, 2027, will feature the smallest House minority for the Republican party in more than 30 years.
Jordan defeated outgoing Majority Leader Steve Scalise in a closed-door, secret-ballot election by a 106-73 vote. The race forced a choice between two very different styles of leadership after a crushing election defeat.
Congratulations Tom Emmer, House Minority Whip-elect. pic.twitter.com/eschn3EXHl
Scalise, elected to Congress in 2008 and a member of leadership since 2014, had served as the GOP’s No. 2 leader since 2023. Known for his resilience, Scalise was critically injured in a 2017 shooting at a congressional baseball practice and recently completed treatment for multiple myeloma.
Following the vote, Scalise stated he still had “gas in the tank” while acknowledging significant changes ahead in January. Meanwhile, other leadership roles were filled, with Utah Representative Blake Moore reelected as vice chair. Republican Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota successfully defended his position, tasked with managing party discipline in the new, diminished minority.
I’m running for Chair of the House Republican Conference. Republicans didn’t lose because we were too conservative. We lost because we failed to deliver on the conservative policies we promised. I’m not interested in preserving the status quo. I’m stepping forward to give… pic.twitter.com/e0ftl9mSuP
Jordan’s rise to the top of the minority conference marks a stark turnaround for a lawmaker who once built a brand in the Capitol for challenging party leaders rather than joining their ranks. First elected in 2006, Jordan eventually climbed the ranks, notably running for House Speaker in 2023, though he failed to secure the necessary votes at that time.
His legislative history includes serving as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, where he became a frequent cable news presence defending President Donald Trump. Jordan also faced public scrutiny in 2018 regarding his time as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University, where he has repeatedly denied knowledge of sexual abuse allegations brought against the team’s doctor.
Boehner once described Jordan as a “legislative terrorist” and told CBS News in 2021 that he “just never saw a guy who spent more time tearing things apart, never building anything, never putting anything together.” Despite these past tensions, Speaker Mike Johnson remarked after the vote that Jordan has “always been regarded as a leader by the conference.”
Addressing reporters after his victory, Jordan made clear that the minority conference intends to take the fight directly to the incoming Democratic majority rather than relying purely on defense. Jordan emphasized that the party must shift its focus, stating, “Our job cannot be merely to spotlight how radical this new Democratic Party is — offense, not defense, wins elections.”
Incoming House Minority Leader Jim Jordan predicts Democrats will pursue a third impeachment of President Trump and target potential 2028 Republican presidential candidates: “There’ll be a third impeachment. They can’t help themselves. They’re going to go after everyone in the… pic.twitter.com/b2eU0cztkE
When Democrats offer more government, we’ll offer more freedom, and we will bring that fight in committee, on the floor, and on the stump every single day.
Jim Jordan, U.S. Representative for Ohio
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become the next House Speaker, told reporters he is unsure how the parties will work together, noting that Jordan will have to chart his own path forward.
Jordan has already predicted that Democrats will aggressively target the Trump administration, including cabinet members like Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and potentially investigate future GOP presidential nominees. As the 120th Congress approaches, Jordan’s supporters, such as Representative Darin LaHood of Illinois, argue that the conference was ready for a “different direction” and a leader who represents change.
