House Speaker Mike Johnson will not stay on as Republican leader after GOP losses - NBC News
Following significant Republican losses in the midterm elections, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced he will not seek to remain as the GOP leader. Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan have emerged as candidates to lead the party in the new Congress.
Why it matters
The leadership vacuum in the House signals a major shift in Republican strategy and internal power dynamics following a disappointing election cycle.
WASHINGTON — A day after Democrats captured the House majority, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told his staff Wednesday morning he will not stay on as Republican leader in the new Congress, according to four sources on the phone call. His announcement follows massive losses for his party in House races Tuesday. Johnson’s departure will leave open the position of House minority leader. Republicans are scheduled to hold an internal election to select their candidate for the position Nov. 10. Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who is the No. 2 GOP leader, a close Johnson ally and a fellow Louisiana Republican, announced his bid for minority leader in a letter to GOP colleagues Wednesday. He became a national figure after he survived an assassination attempt during the 2017 congressional baseball game shooting. “Last night’s election was far worse than any of us expected.
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