The story so far
- Jim Jordan Launches Bid for House GOP Leader9 sources
- Speaker Johnson Won't Seek GOP Leader Post After Midterm RoutYou are hereLatest
Updated 9m ago · Politics
Speaker Johnson Won't Seek GOP Leader Post After Midterm Rout
Speaker Mike Johnson will not run for minority leader. He told staff on a Wednesday morning call, after Republicans lost the House.
- 21 or more GOP seats flipped to Democrats Tuesday.
- 218-212 was the GOP majority entering Election Day.
- Jim Jordan has declared a run for the top GOP post.
- Steve Scalise is also floated as a possible successor.
Why it matters: Johnson's exit sets up a contest over who leads House Republicans in the minority. Trump will face a Democratic House for his last two years.
- Incoming Oversight Chairman Robert Garcia warned administration officials: "Lawyer up."
- Johnson had said in October he would stay on regardless of outcome.
How 31 sources split on this story
Source landscape
Factuality
High
Mixed
Low
Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right
Political Bias
Coverage by lean
31 sources · 33 articles · 39% Right coverage
Where they split: Coverage differs on whether Johnson's leadership or Trump's agenda drove the losses.
Center coverage, 11 sources: The center sees a leadership vacuum and a likely bruising fight among House Republicans.
Axios1hMike Johnson bows out of leadership after crushing House GOP defeatBloomberg1hSpeaker Johnson Won’t Stay On as GOP Leader After Midterm RoutDeadline57mMidterm Elections: Mike Johnson To Step Down From House Republican Leadership After Democrats’ Blowout VictoriesNewsweek1hMike Johnson Makes Major Announcement After Republicans Lose HouseRoll Call6hMike Johnson won’t seek top GOP spot as House flips - Roll CallSemafor1hJohnson out as House Republican leader after GOP routThe Hill1hSpeaker Mike Johnson won’t run for minority leader, setting up GOP battleUSA Today57mSpeaker Mike Johnson won't seek House leadership role after GOP lossesWFLA News Channel 81hSpeaker Mike Johnson won't seek reelection as House Republican leader after Democratic takeover, an AP source saysWKBN Youngstown1hSpeaker Mike Johnson won’t run for minority leader, setting up GOP battleWSAV Savannah1hSpeaker Mike Johnson won’t run for minority leader, setting up GOP battle
Left coverage, 8 sources: The left sees the end of an unlikely, fast rise to power, cut short by a decisive Democratic win.
Politico1hMike Johnson will step aside as House GOP leaderThe Independent21mMike Johnson will step aside as House GOP leader as Democrats sweep to victoryDaily Kos1hMike Johnson runs scared from GOP leadership roleMediaite1hMike Johnson Says He Will Not Run For House Minority Leadership as Scalise Throws His Hat in the RingNBC News1hHouse Speaker Mike Johnson will not stay on as Republican leader after GOP lossesPolitical Wire1hMike Johnson Won’t Run for GOP LeaderRaw Story1hMike Johnson quits leadership race amid 'misery and pain' as Jim Jordan set to runThe New Republic1hMike Johnson Quits Republican Leadership After Midterms Humiliation
Right coverage, 12 sources: The right sees a heavy GOP defeat and focuses on who leads the party against Democratic investigations of Trump.
Daily Mail1hSpeaker Mike Johnson won't run for leadership spot after brutal Republican losses… and first controversial contender stakes claim on powerNew York Post1hMike Johnson won't run for minority leader after Republicans lose House majorityBizPac Review55mMike Johnson not running for minority leader after GOP lose house majority in wipeoutCitizen Free Press1hBREAKING | MIKE JOHNSON WILL NOT RUN FOR MINORITY LEADER.Legal Insurrection1hMike Johnson Won’t Run for House Minority LeaderLifeNews1hSpeaker Mike Johnson Will Step Down as Leader of House Republicans - LifeNews.comOutKick1hMike Johnson not running to lead House GOP after historic midterm lossesRedState6hMike Johnson Makes Surprising Decision After GOP's Crushing Midterm DefeatThe Center Square53mJohnson will not seek House minority leader roleThe Daily Caller55mMike Johnson Not Running For Minority Leader After GOP Loses House Majority In WipeoutThe Daily Signal43mMike Johnson Won’t Remain In House Leadership After Big Midterm LossesWashington Examiner1hMike Johnson won’t run for minority leader after steep GOP midterm losses
What’s next: Republicans vote by secret ballot Nov. 10. A simple majority of the conference wins.
- Republicans are watching whether Trump endorses a candidate.
- Will Johnson stay in Congress? The New York Post's source says yes, while Axios calls his future uncertain.
- Will Scalise enter the race against Jordan?
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