Mike Johnson Won't Seek House GOP Leadership Post as Jordan and Scalise Launch Bids
Photo: The Guardian USHouse Speaker Mike Johnson will not seek the House minority leader post or any other leadership role in the next Congress, he told staff in a private call Wednesday, a day after Republicans lost the House majority in the midterm elections. Straight Arrow News reported he tied the decision to the 21 seats Republicans lost Tuesday. Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan launched bids Wednesday to become the party's top House leader, with a vote set for Tuesday for minority leader in the 120th Congress. Fox News had reported that Jordan, the Judiciary Committee chair, was planning an effort to oust Johnson. Both men lost speakership bids after Kevin McCarthy's 2023 ouster, when Johnson emerged as a consensus pick. Rep. August Pfluger of Texas said in a letter that he would run for the second-ranking spot, setting up a clash with Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota.
The Daily Caller, on the right, leads with the Scalise-Jordan contest, headlining it as a wrestle for the top spot, and quotes Scalise promising unity, conservative wins and a return to the majority in 2028. It also features his claims that Democrats will pursue impeachment and aggressive oversight of President Trump. The Federalist is more critical, quoting Rep. Steube's charge that leadership governed out of fear and arguing the successor must not be another "useless" Republican. NPR and The Guardian, on the left, lead with Johnson's exit and the "bruising" or "disastrous" defeat. The Guardian adds Jordan's failed 2023 bid and the Fox report on his planned effort against Johnson. All sides agree on Johnson's exit and the two rivals. Semafor adds the Pfluger-Emmer contest and Democratic dynamics around Hakeem Jeffries.
How the sides differ Right sources focus on Scalise and Jordan's campaigns and a harsh internal critique; left sources stress the midterm defeat; alternative sources add the race for the No. 2 post.
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NPR and The Guardian lead with Johnson's decision as a consequence of a bruising midterm defeat, with The Guardian adding Jordan's and Scalise's earlier failed speakership bids and reports from Fox News and Punchbowl.
- Straight Arrow NewsMike Johnson to step down as House speaker after Democrats win majority
Semafor reports Johnson's private message to staff and widens the lens to the race for the No. 2 job (Pfluger versus Emmer) and Democratic leadership; Straight Arrow News cites the 21 lost seats.
- The FederalistMike Johnson Isn’t Running For GOP House Leader. His Successor Can’t Be Another Useless Republican
The Daily Caller centers on Scalise and Jordan's leadership bids, featuring Scalise's pledge and his warnings about Democratic oversight; The Federalist runs a critical piece quoting Rep. Steube against leadership.