House Republicans will hold a secret-ballot election on Tuesday to choose their minority leader for the next Congress, with Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan competing to replace Mike Johnson.
The vote comes a week after Republicans lost the House majority in the midterm elections, when Democrats flipped more than 40 Republican seats. The result has left the party facing a decision over its direction as it begins rebuilding and seeks to regain voters’ trust.
Scalise, 61, is the current House majority leader and has held senior Republican leadership positions for more than a decade. His candidacy represents continuity, with the Louisiana Republican presenting himself as a close ally of Donald Trump who would lead in a “conservative and consensus-driven” way.
“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,” Mr Scalise wrote in a letter to colleagues.
He said Republicans would need to be effective in forthcoming oversight and legislative battles, while also setting out “a clear and optimistic vision for America”.
Jim Jordan promises a more aggressive approach
Mr Jordan, 62, is a veteran of the House Oversight and House Judiciary committees, which are expected to be central to investigations planned by Democrats into Mr Trump and his administration.
The Ohio Republican, a former college wrestling coach and co-founder of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, has argued for a more combative style of leadership. “Offense, not defense, wins elections,” he wrote in his own letter to colleagues.
“For too long, we have operated without a clear plan to survive the hour or the day in front of us. That will not cut it against an emboldened and energetic Democratic party,” Mr Jordan said, criticising the House leadership team led by Mr Johnson and Mr Scalise.
“I am battle-tested on the oversight front and I know the Democrats’ playbook,” he added.
The contest is a rematch of the 2023 race to replace Kevin McCarthy as Speaker. After several candidates failed to win enough support, Republicans eventually chose Mr Johnson.
Former acting House Speaker pro tempore Patrick McHenry said the contest would become part of a wider debate over the future of the Republican Party. Republican strategist Leslie Shedd said both candidates would need to offer a clear and substantive plan for leading the party after its defeat.
Donald Trump has so far stayed out of the contest, although he endorsed Mr Jordan in 2023. John Leganski, a former aide to Mr McCarthy, said more than 70% of the incoming House Republican conference had been elected after Mr Trump first won the presidency, leaving him with considerable potential influence over the party’s direction.
Whoever wins will have limited leverage in the new Congress because of the scale of the Democratic victory. Their immediate priorities will be to try to regain the House and make life as difficult as possible for Democrats, largely by voting against their proposals, Mr Leganski said.
