Politics
Scalise enters House Republican minority leader race as Johnson bows out
November 4, 2026 at 09:40 PM
Coverage
2 reports · 1 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 5 hours
Republicans have opened a House minority leadership contest after losing the chamber, with Steve Scalise declaring his candidacy and Mike Johnson declining to run.
- Democrats won a House majority with 227 of 435 seats and a Senate majority with 53 of 100 seats in the midterm elections.
- House Majority Leader Steve Scalise announced his candidacy for minority leader in a letter to Republican lawmakers on Wednesday.
- Speaker Mike Johnson said he will not pursue the minority leader role after Republicans lose their House majority.
- Fox News reported that Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan was planning an effort to oust Johnson for the position.