WASHINGTON — House and Senate Republicans chose their next leaders Tuesday as the party prepares for life in the minority and works toward clawing back into a majority during the next two years.
In the House, Republicans chose Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a hardline conservative, to lead their conference after the party suffered widespread losses during the midterms.
Jordan, who serves as the House Judiciary Committee chair, is seen as a fighter and someone new in the leadership ranks who will be responsible for wielding a small GOP minority.
Jordan defeated Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana 106-73 in a closed-door, secret ballot election.
“Over the next two years, House Republicans will fight for American families,” Jordan told reporters after winning the leadership election. “When Democrats offer more government, we’ll offer more freedom. And we will bring that fight in committee, on the floor and on the stump every single day.”
Jordan is a strong supporter of President Donald Trump and also co-founded the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus.
“He’s a fighter. Everybody knows Jim Jordan. He’s been around here for a while,” U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, R-Huntsville, told Alabama Daily News. “We’ve got our work cut out for us, but he’s the guy for the job right now. There’s no doubt.”
After losing control of the House and Senate in the next Congress, Strong said Republicans need to focus on “affordability, gas prices, working with others, solving problems for the American people, and listening to the people in their districts.”
Jordan and Scalise had battled it out for a leadership position before, but both failed to win enough votes to become House speaker in 2023. That led to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., taking the reins three years ago. Johnson declined to run for leadership after the midterm losses.
The House GOP conference also selected other leadership positions Tuesday, including Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota for whip, who currently serves in that role, and Rep. Lisa McClain of Michigan, who will remain conference chair, a position that oversees messaging.
“Today is not a day for celebrating,” Emmer said after the conference meeting. “We lost last Tuesday, and I take it personally, as do my colleagues. Over the next two years, we will regain the trust and confidence of the American people, so we can build back our majority in 2028.”
The only House Republican leader from the South next year will be Rep. Brian Jack of Georgia, who was elected to lead the House Republicans’ campaign arm.
Democrats are set to choose their leader next week. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York is expected to win that internal contest to eventually become the nation’s first Black speaker of the House next year.
In the Senate, Republicans chose Senate Majority Leader John Thune to remain atop the conference next year in the minority.
Thune was reelected Tuesday after a vote to delay the leadership elections, spearheaded by Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, failed to proceed 31-15 in a closed-door meeting. No alternative leader emerged.
“I appreciated the opportunity to have an open, honest, and transparent conversation with my colleagues today, and I am honored to have their continued trust and support to lead the Senate Republican Conference in the 120th Congress,” Thune said in a statement.
Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., nor did Sen.-elect Barry Moore, R-Ala., publicly call to postpone the Senate leadership election.
But Moore did congratulate Jordan for being elected House minority leader, though he did not vote in that election since he will be in the Senate next year.
“He’s a fighter, a true patriot, and exactly the kind of leader we need!” Moore wrote on social media.
With Republicans set to lose power in less than two months, Britt wrote on social media that she supported a motion from Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., during their conference meeting that the Senate stay in session as much as possible to achieve their priorities before the end of the year.
The rest of the Senate GOP’s leadership team will also remain in place next year, except for Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, who will now lead the National Republican Senatorial Committee, as the party tries to win back seats.
Senate Democrats are expected to elect their new leader next month. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wants to lead the conference in the majority after Democrats flipped at least seven seats this year. But on Tuesday, Sen. Sanders, I-Vt., who caucuses with Democrats, said he would not support Schumer.
Other progressives have floated Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland as a possible alternative to serve as Senate majority leader next year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.