Speaker Mike Johnson Steps Aside as House GOP Leader; Scalise and Jordan Seek the Job. Pick the Servant.
Mike Johnson will not lead House Republicans in the minority. Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan want the job, and a whip race is forming.
The facts come first below. My opinion follows in the section marked as opinion.
House Speaker Mike Johnson will not run to lead Republicans in the next Congress, stepping aside a day after his party lost the House majority. Two Republicans, Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio, have already asked for the job.
Johnson told his staff on a call Wednesday morning that he would not run for minority leader, CBS News reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. NBC News reported the same news, citing four sources on the phone call. House Republicans plan to hold their leadership elections on Tuesday, Nov. 10, according to both outlets. The Associated Press also reported Johnson's decision, citing two people familiar with it, and said he is expected to keep his Louisiana seat.
These accounts come from reports read Wednesday evening, Nov. 4, Central time. Candidates could still enter or leave the race before the vote.
Johnson's turn
Johnson won reelection and is not expected to leave Congress, USA Today reported, citing a person familiar with his thinking. The same report said Johnson did not want to get in the way of Scalise's ambitions, and that President Trump said he did not ask Johnson to step down.
The decision is a reversal. Johnson told CBS News in October that he planned to stay on as leader if Republicans lost, CBS reported. He became speaker in October 2023 as the party's fourth nominee, after Reps. Tom Emmer, Scalise and Jordan failed to unite Republicans. In remarks Tuesday night, Johnson said, "It's been the honor of my life to serve as the 56th speaker of the House."
The two candidates
Scalise, the No. 2 Republican, is a close Johnson ally, NBC News reported. In his letter to colleagues, he wrote, "Last night's election was far worse than any of us expected. We fought hard and left it all on the field, but clearly, we were unable to defy history."
He also wrote, "My number one goal as Republican Leader will be to win back the majority and I expect you to hold me accountable to that mission," according to CBS News.
Jordan, the founding chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, has run for minority leader and speaker before without success, NBC News reported. His letter, obtained by CBS News, said, "This is a staggering day for our Conference," and argued, "For too long, we have operated without a clear plan to survive the hour or the day in front of us." He described himself as "battle-tested on the oversight front" as Democrats prepare investigations of the administration.
Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday that he intended to stay out of the leadership race, Roll Call reported. Speaking of Johnson and his team, Trump said, "We'll stay out of it," according to USA Today.
Calls for a clean slate
The fight may not stop at the top. Rep. August Pfluger of Texas, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, said he will challenge Majority Whip Tom Emmer for the No. 2 job, NBC News reported. Rep. Greg Steube of Florida posted a message to party leaders: "Please do us all a favor and step aside so new leadership can take a truly conservative direction," according to Roll Call.
Democrats, meanwhile, are preparing to take the gavel in January. For the full results picture, see Democrats Win House and Senate; Alaska, Dozens of Seats Uncalled.
Opinion:
Mike Johnson did the honorable thing. A leader who loses this badly should step aside, and he did it in a day, without a drawn-out fight that would have wasted time his party does not have. He kept a narrow, fractured majority together through hard votes, and he deserves thanks for that service even from those who wanted more from him.
Now Republicans have to choose. Scalise offers steadiness and fundraising. Jordan offers a fighter for the oversight battles ahead. Both have real strengths. But the question is not which man will defend the president most loudly. It is which man can lead a minority back to the trust of voters who just walked away.
That means a plan, not just a posture. Voters said they were angry about prices and corruption. A minority that spends two years only on defense will lose again. Republicans should answer every Democratic investigation with honesty, and every Democratic bill with a better idea on cost of living, energy and the border.
Whoever wins should remember who the job is for. Jesus told His disciples, whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister. Leadership is service. The conference should pick the servant, then follow him.
