Mike Johnson drops out of House GOP leadership race as Jim Jordan enters

House Speaker Mike Johnson has withdrawn from the race to lead House Republicans following the party's loss of the chamber in Tuesday's midterm elections, with Rep. Jim Jordan preparing to enter the contest. Democrats secured control of both the House and Senate, and Hakeem Jeffries is expected to replace Johnson as Speaker in January. Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, is positioning himself as a candidate focused on investigations and defending President Donald Trump. Johnson's exit comes after he previously predicted he would retain leadership despite a potential loss. Democrats flipped at least 25 Republican-held House seats, exceeding their 2008 gains, and the new majority will grant them subpoena power.