Scalise and Jordan vie to lead House Republicans in the minority
On November 10, House Republicans are set to choose whether Steve Scalise or Jim Jordan will lead them in the 120th Congress, as the party prepares to serve in the minority after election losses the previous week.
The contest pits a longtime party leader against a conservative hard-liner. Scalise, a Louisiana Republican who has held leadership roles for more than a decade, is seen as the more traditional choice. Jordan, an Ohio Republican and Judiciary Committee chairman, has strong ties to the party’s right flank and is a close ally of President Donald Trump.
Jordan is urging a more confrontational, conservative approach, while Scalise has emphasized party unity, strategic work on policy and a plan to regain the majority in 2028. Both describe themselves as deeply conservative, and the outcome is expected to signal how Republicans intend to respond to their losses.
The candidates will address the GOP conference in the morning, with a secret-ballot vote scheduled for the afternoon. A simple majority is required. The race is considered close, with a few votes potentially deciding it.
The two also competed for the top Republican post in 2023, after Kevin McCarthy was removed as speaker. Scalise won the conference vote, 113-99, but later withdrew from the speakership contest after failing to secure enough support on the House floor. Jordan then backed him, and Mike Johnson ultimately became speaker.
House GOP weighs hard-line turn after election losses
On November 10, House Republicans will decide who leads them into the minority: longtime leadership figure Steve Scalise or Jim Jordan, a close ally of President Donald Trump who is pressing for a more confrontational, conservative approach.
The choice is more than a personnel decision. Jordan’s campaign argues Republicans need to go on offense, while Scalise emphasizes unity, strategic policy work and rebuilding toward a majority in 2028. The vote will offer an early sign of whether the party responds to its losses by doubling down on confrontation or choosing a more predictable leadership style.
Jordan, an Ohio Republican and Judiciary Committee chairman, has strong backing among hard-line conservatives. Scalise, a Louisiana Republican with over a decade in party leadership, is viewed as the establishment candidate. Both have conservative credentials, but they are offering different strategies for the party’s next chapter.
The candidates will address the GOP conference in the morning before a secret ballot in the afternoon. A simple majority wins, and the contest is considered close, with only a few votes potentially separating them.
They faced off in 2023 after Kevin McCarthy was ousted as speaker. Scalise won that conference vote, 113-99, but withdrew after failing to win enough support on the House floor. Jordan backed him, and Mike Johnson ultimately became speaker. This time, Republicans are choosing a leader for an opposition party still deciding what its response to defeat should be.
Scalise offers steady leadership as House GOP chooses its path
On November 10, House Republicans will choose a leader for their coming time in the minority. The contest between Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan is a choice between a seasoned leadership hand and a more confrontational approach favored by hard-line conservatives.
Scalise, a Louisiana Republican who has served in party leadership for more than a decade, is making the case for unity, strategic policy work and a clear plan to win back the majority in 2028. After the party’s election losses, Republicans will need a disciplined strategy to contest policy and rebuild their position.
Jordan, an Ohio Republican and Judiciary Committee chairman, wants a more aggressive and conservative style. He has strong ties to the party’s right flank and is a close ally of President Donald Trump. His argument is that Republicans should go on offense, but the vote will determine whether the conference prefers that shift or the more predictable approach associated with Scalise.
Both candidates describe themselves as deeply conservative, and the race is considered close. They will speak to the GOP conference in the morning, followed by a secret-ballot vote in the afternoon. A simple majority is required.
The candidates also competed in 2023, after Kevin McCarthy was removed as speaker. Scalise won the conference ballot, 113-99, but later withdrew from the speaker race after failing to secure enough support on the House floor. Jordan backed him, and Mike Johnson ultimately became speaker. The current choice will set the tone for how Republicans seek to regain power.
Reported by The Washington Examiner, MSNBC, Semafor, The Philadelphia Inquirer, CBS News, Deseret News.
