House Republicans Pick Jim Jordan as Minority Leader, Snub Scalise

A dejected House GOP conference voted Tuesday to make Jim Jordan its minority leader for the new Congress. Jordan, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, beat out House Majority Leader Steve Scalise for the job. The Ohio lawmaker has built his reputation as a Freedom Caucus rebel and one of Donald Trump's most stalwart defenders.

The pick is a rejection of the status quo that many Republicans believe cost them the election — specifically, the decision not to promote their current No. 2 House Republican. Jordan pitched himself to colleagues as the best man to take on an insurgent Democratic Party, which will bring a robust oversight agenda aimed at Trump's White House. Allies say the former wrestling coach can play political attack dog in a way Scalise cannot.

Scalise is a veteran of House GOP leadership, a more reserved, old-school conservative who survived a gunshot wound nearly a decade ago and is friendly with Trump. He told members he would look for ways to work with Democrats on GOP priorities. A person close to Jordan shot that down: Democrats have the numbers and don't need Republicans, the person said, so the party needs to unite as a team.

Trump, at least for now, remains the party's future. “[Trump] is still the leader of our party. We are going to be fighting tooth and nail to make sure his agenda continues to stay implemented,” a person familiar with Jordan's thinking told CNN.

Rather than moderating, Republicans are going hardline as they chase relevance over the next two years — and the conference itself is set to be far more conservative. Most of its remaining moderates were wiped out in the midterms, from New Jersey to Arizona. Democrats, meanwhile, are readying for battle in 2027 with control of the chamber and a target on Trump's White House. “They have the numbers, they don't need us,” the person close to Jordan said. “We need to be uniting as a team.”