House Republicans have elected Ohio Representative Jim Jordan as their new leader in the House of Representatives. Jordan, a co-founder of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus and a close ally of President Donald Trump, will serve as minority leader in the new Congress starting in January. He succeeds Mike Johnson, who announced he would not seek the role following sweeping Republican losses in the midterm elections.
Jordan secured the position through a secret ballot, defeating Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana by a vote of 106-73. Scalise had served as the number two member of the GOP House leadership. Jordan, who currently serves as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has promised unity and a robust opposition as the party transitions to the minority.
The leadership change comes as Democrats prepare to hold their largest margins in both the House and Senate in years. Jordan, described as a combative figure and a strident defender of Trump, will be responsible for shaping the party's strategy against promised Democratic investigations into Trump's second administration and their ambitious legislative agenda.
Alongside the House election, Republicans have also picked John Thune as their Senate leader for the final two years of Trump's presidency.