Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise jump into race to replace Mike Johnson: reports

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise have thrown their hats into the ring to replace Speaker of the House Mike Johnson after he said Wednesday that he would not run for minority leader in the next Congress.

Republicans suffered a stinging defeat on Tuesday evening, with voters handing Democrats control of both chambers of Congress by clear margins. Johnson subsequently announced he would not seek to remain the party's leader in the lower chamber.

BREAKING: House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) will run for House Minority Leader, per sources familiar to @FoxNews.

So far, Scalise and Jim Jordan have thrown their hats into the ring with Johnson stepping down.

Source to FOX on Scalise decision:

“His number one…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) November 4, 2026

Scalise was right-hand man to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and later Johnson. Jordan, meanwhile, is most well-known for his investigations on the Judiciary Committee.

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