Democrats mostly settle committee posts if they retake House, GOP leadership less clear

Just the News 29 October 2026

With polls and historical data showing Democrats poised to retake control of the House, Minority Leader Rep.

Hakem Jeffries appears set to become the first black House speaker and all of the prestigious committee leadership posts largely appear in place – with arguably the biggest question being who will lead the Republican conference should the GOP lose its majority in the chamber.

So far, no member of the House Democrat Conference has either openly – or covertly – sought to challenge Jeffries, with only the slightest suggestion that Massachusetts Rep. Katherine Clark, now in the No. 2 Democratic leadership post as minority whip, could perhaps pose a worthy challenge.

Ohio Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur recently said Clark would restore "a sense of order" to the House if Democrats prevail in the midterms, which Politico interpreted as "putting Clark in line to be the first woman to serve as majority leader."

However, Clark has made no public indication that she intends to compete for the post.

Arizona Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton, chairman of the NewDem Action Fund, the political arm of the centrist New Democrat Coalition, recently told Politico: "Every single endorsed candidate supports Hakeem Jeffries for speaker of the House. We will be a strong governing partner with Hakeem Jeffries to make sure that his speakership is as successful as possible."

The House speaker is elected when the new Congress convenes Jan. 3.

Polls overwhelmingly show Democrats winning the House on election night Tuesday. And the president's party did not hold a majority in the House after eight of the last nine midterm elections, according to the Get the Facts Data Team, an investigative data journalism group associated with local television stations and media networks.

President Donald Trump is the leader of the Republican Party, which now controls the House and Senate.

Should Democrats retake the House, the majority of committee chairmanships are expected to go to the panels' top Democrats, with a couple of possible exceptions.

The Agriculture Committee chairmanship became available when top Democrat Angie Craig left the House as part of her unsuccessful Senate bid. The most likely contenders for the post are Rep. Shontel Brown, Ohio, and Jim Costa, California. Craig has backed Brown to replace her, according to Politico.

In addition, New York Rep. Nydia Velázquez is not seeking reelection, leaving the House Committee on Small Business chairmanship up for grabs. At least two fellow Democrats have emerged as potential candidates, Reps. Gil Cisneros, of California, and Sharice Davis, of Kansas, according to Bloomberg news. And Rep. Lateefah Simon, of California, has also attracted speculation, according to Punchbowl News.

Meanwhile, the top posts for most of the other committee – include the premiere investigative Judiciary and Oversight panels – appear set.

Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, is a near-lock to become chairman. He was the lead impeachment manager in the House's second impeachment of Trump.

The Oversight and Government Reform Committee is perhaps Judiciary's closest challenger in terms of subpoenas and records-demand letters. The panel under Republicans led an impeachment inquiry into then-President Joe Biden in the last administration. California Rep. Robert Garcia is the panel's top Democrat and will likely assume the chairmanship.

And the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Connecticut Rep. James Himes, will likely take over should the Democrats claim the majority.

Perhaps the biggest question is whether House Speaker Mike Johnson, should Democrats take the majority, become the minority leader. He has recently signaled intentions to keep his post as the chamber's top Republican, according to The Hill newspaper.

Last week, Trump offered a strong endorsement of his leadership skills.

"Mike Johnson is a true friend, fighter, and WINNER," Trump posted on social media, "and he has my Complete and Total endorsement for Re-Election."

Johnson responded: "Thank you, President @realDonaldTrump! The best is yet to come as we save America!"

Most House speakers in recent decades have left Congress after losing the speakership. And GOP Reps. Steve Scalise, of Louisiana, now the majority leader, and Jim Jordan, of Ohio, are expected to launch bids to lead the House Republicans Conference should Democrats take the chamber, according to interviews by The Hill of GOP lawmakers, aides and strategists.

Newt Gingrich, of Georgia; Dennis Hastert, of Illinois; Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin; and Kevin McCarthy, of California, are among Republicans who left Capitol Hill after losing the gavel, also according to The Hill.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.