Speaker Mike Johnson told staff Wednesday he will not seek to lead House Republicans in the minority. Rep. Jim Jordan announced a run for minority leader.
21 or more seats were lost by Republicans in Tuesday's midterms.
218-212 was the GOP majority entering Election Day.
Jordan chairs the Judiciary Committee and co-founded the House Freedom Caucus.
Jordan lost three speaker floor votes in 2023 after McCarthy's ouster.
Why it matters: Democrats will hold the investigative gavels for the rest of Trump's term. Rep. Robert Garcia, set to chair the Oversight Committee, warned the administration: "Lawyer up."
Jordan argues leadership needs new blood and investigations are his specialty.
Minority leader needs only a majority of the party, not the full House.
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Political Bias
Coverage by lean% of 11 sources
11 sources · 16 articles · 55% Right coverage
Where they split: Coverage differs on whether Jordan's bid reflects his reinvention as a unifying figure or a continuation of the confrontational record that sank his 2023 speaker run.
Left coverage, 3 sources: The left frames Jordan as quickly using the party's defeat to grab power, pointing to his aggressive probes and failed 2023 speaker bid.
Right coverage, 6 sources: The right frames the race as a search for Trump's top defender against coming Democratic investigations, with Jordan casting himself as a seasoned investigator.
