House Speaker Mike Johnson to Step Down as GOP Leader After Midterm Losses

House Speaker Mike Johnson will not seek the Republican leadership position in the new Congress following the party's defeat in the midterm elections, according to two people familiar with the decision. Johnson told colleagues Wednesday that he is stepping aside as the House GOP moves from the majority to the minority.

The Shreveport-area representative won reelection to a sixth term in office. He is expected to serve as a rank-and-file member of the House when the new Congress convenes in January. Johnson’s decision ends his tenure as the party’s top House leader after a period of intense legislative activity and internal conflict.

The departure sets the stage for a competitive race for the minority leadership post. Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana announced his candidacy in a letter to colleagues on Wednesday. Scalise wrote that the election results were worse than anticipated and that the stakes for the party's future are high. He has long cultivated support from the conservative wing of the House, particularly among members from business and energy sectors.

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio also announced his bid for the leadership job in a letter to members. Jordan described himself as battle-tested in his announcement. The former wrestler, who led the Judiciary Committee, has maintained support from the hard-right faction, including members of the Freedom Caucus. Jordan and Scalise both sought the speaker’s gavel in 2023 when colleagues ousted Kevin McCarthy, but neither secured the necessary votes at that time.

Johnson first assumed the speakership in 2023 after Republicans removed McCarthy from the post. Johnson was not initially the front-runner for the role but emerged as a consensus choice when his colleagues could not agree on a successor. He quickly aligned his approach with President Donald Trump, whom he described in past interviews as a frequent phone contact. Johnson led the passage of the party’s major tax and spending package, which Trump signed into law.

Democrats are preparing to nominate House Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York to become the next House speaker. The election of the speaker is scheduled as one of the first votes of the new Congress on January 3, 2027. Republicans are expected to elect their new minority leader when members-elect gather in Washington next week.