Jim Jordan wins House GOP leadership race

Rep. Jim Jordan was elected House GOP minority leader, defeating Majority Leader Steve Scalise 106-73 in a secret ballot vote, marking his third attempt at leading Republicans on Capitol Hill. Jordan, a House Freedom Caucus co-founder and Judiciary Committee chair, pitched himself as "battle tested on the oversight front" for combat with the incoming Democratic majority. His win follows Speaker Mike Johnson's exit after catastrophic Republican losses last week. Jordan previously lost minority leader bids in 2018 and 2023, when moderate Republicans blocked his speakership, though many opponents have since left Congress. Scalise's future is unclear after pitching himself as best for a 2028 majority comeback.