House Republicans pick new leader as party prepares for minority

House Republicans are voting Tuesday to select their next leader in the minority, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio as the candidates. The winner will inherit a historically small Republican conference as President Donald Trump finishes his final two years in office. Scalise, 61, has held key GOP leadership roles since 2014 and emphasizes his fundraising prowess, having raised $67.9 million for this year's midterms. Jordan, 62, a co-founder of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, stresses his experience with oversight and Democratic investigations. Both previously ran for House speaker after Kevin McCarthy's ouster three years ago, but neither secured the position, which went to Mike Johnson. The race also includes contests for Republican whip and conference chair positions, with Democrats holding their leadership elections next week. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is expected to become the next House speaker, the first African-American to hold the job, while Katherine Clark of Massachusetts is expected to become the first female majority leader.