House Republicans elect Jim Jordan as their leader after midterm losses; Brian Mast and Anna Paulina Luna praise his fighting style, and Ted Lieu says the party chose the more extreme candidate
House Republicans chose Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio over Rep. Steve Scalise, 106 to 73, on November 10, 2026, to lead them in the next Congress. Supporters cite his record fighting Democrats; Democratic lawmakers say the party chose its more extreme candidate.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Jordan, 62, has represented Ohio in the House for two decades. He co-founded the House Freedom Caucus and was its first chairman, and he chairs the House Judiciary Committee, but he had not held a senior party leadership post. He and Scalise both sought the speakership after Kevin McCarthy was removed in 2023; neither secured it, and the job went to Johnson.
The Associated Press had called 166 seats for Republicans and 255 for Democrats in the incoming Congress when the vote took place, leaving Republicans with their smallest House minority since the 1990s. In the same round of elections, Republicans reelected Tom Emmer as whip and Lisa McClain as conference chair. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is expected to become speaker in January.
People in this case
Jim JordanDirectly involved
Steve ScaliseDirectly involved
Ayanna PressleyCommented
Brian MastCommented
Timeline
2 timeline entries on this page. Dates: November 10, 2026
November 2026
House Republicans elect Jordan as their leader, 106 to 73
Incident
In a closed-door, secret-ballot vote of members who will serve in the next Congress, Jordan defeats Rep. Steve Scalise to become House Republican leader. Republicans reelect Tom Emmer as whip and Lisa McClain as conference chair.
[01]Associated Press
Associated Press report on the House Republican leadership election, with the 106-73 vote, Jordan's remarks to reporters and comments from Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
AP: Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio elected to lead House Republicans in the minority · Associated PressArticle text, as published on WECT[02]States Newsroom: US House Republicans elect Ohio firebrand Jim Jordan to lead party in next Congress
States Newsroom report on the closed-door vote, the other leadership races and the size of the incoming Republican minority.
States Newsroom: US House Republicans elect Ohio firebrand Jim Jordan to lead party in next CongressArticle text, as published by the Daily MontananJordan says Republicans will offer more freedom
Reaction
In brief remarks to reporters after the vote, Jordan says House Republicans will fight for American families over the next two years and will offer more freedom when Democrats offer more government.
[02]States Newsroom: US House Republicans elect Ohio firebrand Jim Jordan to lead party in next Congress
States Newsroom report on the closed-door vote, the other leadership races and the size of the incoming Republican minority.
States Newsroom: US House Republicans elect Ohio firebrand Jim Jordan to lead party in next CongressArticle text, as published by the Daily Montanan[01]Associated Press
Associated Press report on the House Republican leadership election, with the 106-73 vote, Jordan's remarks to reporters and comments from Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
AP: Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio elected to lead House Republicans in the minority · Associated PressArticle text, as published on WECT
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
5 responses. Newest first.
Ayanna PressleyU.S. Representative from Massachusetts, posting on XBefore this statement
House Republicans had elected Jordan as their leader that afternoon in a closed-door vote.
"Republicans are doubling down on far-right, MAGA extremism."
CondemnedCase context: House Republicans elect Jim Jordan as their leader after midterm losses; Brian Mast and Anna Paulina Luna praise his fighting style, and Ted Lieu says the party chose the more extreme candidate
Full statement and sources
Pressley says House Republicans just made Jordan their minority leader and are doubling down on far-right, MAGA extremism.
After the statement
Her post lists what she describes as Jordan's record, including that he helped plan and execute January 6, covered up the Epstein files, wants a national abortion ban and is a Trump loyalist.
Ayanna Pressley on X: House Republicans just made Jim Jordan their Minority LeaderPost on X, November 10, 2026AP: Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio elected to lead House Republicans in the minority · Associated PressArticle text, as published on WECTWhy this label?
Pressley lists what she describes as Jordan's record and says his election shows Republicans doubling down on extremism, which condemns the choice.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Brian MastU.S. Representative from Florida, who nominated Jordan, speaking as reported by the Associated PressBefore this statement
Jordan defeated Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana 106 to 73 in a secret-ballot election of Republicans who will serve in the next Congress.
"The way that Jim fights says a lot about where this conference is"
Defended or excusedCase context: House Republicans elect Jim Jordan as their leader after midterm losses; Brian Mast and Anna Paulina Luna praise his fighting style, and Ted Lieu says the party chose the more extreme candidate
Full statement and sources
Mast, who nominated Jordan for the leadership post, says the way Jordan fights says a lot about where the Republican conference is.
After the statement
Mast also said the conference is significantly more conservative than it was, after many moderates and swing-district Republicans retired or lost their races.
AP: Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio elected to lead House Republicans in the minority · Associated PressArticle text, as published on WECTWhy this label?
Mast nominated Jordan and presents his fighting style as a match for the conference, which supports the Republicans' choice of Jordan as leader.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Anna Paulina LunaU.S. Representative from Florida, speaking as reported by the Associated PressBefore this statement
Luna said that instead of focusing on the people, the entire objective for Democrats appears to be targeted investigations. The AP reported that Jordan's experience battling Democrats in committee rooms was popular with his colleagues.
"And Jim Jordan knows about weaponization."
Defended or excusedCase context: House Republicans elect Jim Jordan as their leader after midterm losses; Brian Mast and Anna Paulina Luna praise his fighting style, and Ted Lieu says the party chose the more extreme candidate
Full statement and sources
Luna says Democrats' entire objective appears to be targeted investigations, and that Jordan knows about weaponization.
After the statement
Scalise's backers pointed to his experience getting legislation passed. Scalise had edged Jordan in a similar secret-ballot vote three years earlier.
AP: Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio elected to lead House Republicans in the minority · Associated PressArticle text, as published on WECTWhy this label?
Luna presents Jordan's experience as the right answer to the investigations she expects from Democrats, which supports the Republicans' choice of Jordan as leader.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Pramila JayapalU.S. Representative from Washington, speaking as reported by the Associated PressBefore this statement
The AP reported that Democrats argued Jordan's selection showed Republicans took the wrong lesson from their election losses.
"I would think that they would want somebody that was going to moderate towards what the voters want. They lost so many Republican voters"
CondemnedCase context: House Republicans elect Jim Jordan as their leader after midterm losses; Brian Mast and Anna Paulina Luna praise his fighting style, and Ted Lieu says the party chose the more extreme candidate
Full statement and sources
Jayapal says she would have expected Republicans to want a leader who would moderate toward what voters want, since they lost so many Republican voters, and that obviously that is not the case.
After the statement
Jayapal added that obviously that was not the case.
AP: Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio elected to lead House Republicans in the minority · Associated PressArticle text, as published on WECTWhy this label?
Jayapal says Republicans should have picked a leader who would moderate after their losses and that Jordan's election shows they did not, which faults the choice.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Ted LieuU.S. Representative from California and vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, speaking as reported by the Associated PressBefore this statement
Jayapal had said Republicans could have chosen someone who would moderate toward what voters want after their losses.
"The House Republican caucus clearly chose the more extreme candidate"
CondemnedCase context: House Republicans elect Jim Jordan as their leader after midterm losses; Brian Mast and Anna Paulina Luna praise his fighting style, and Ted Lieu says the party chose the more extreme candidate
Full statement and sources
Lieu says the House Republican caucus clearly chose the more extreme candidate, and that he hopes Jordan will work with Democrats.
After the statement
Lieu said he hoped Jordan would work with Democrats and that they would see what happens.
AP: Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio elected to lead House Republicans in the minority · Associated PressArticle text, as published on WECTWhy this label?
Lieu calls Jordan the more extreme of the two candidates and says Republicans clearly chose him, which faults the choice, while he says he hopes Jordan will work with Democrats.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(3)
Reporting
AP: Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio elected to lead House Republicans in the minority
Relevant passage: Article text, as published on WECT
About this source
Associated Press report on the House Republican leadership election, with the 106-73 vote, Jordan's remarks to reporters and comments from Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
- Author
- Associated Press
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Ayanna Pressley on X: House Republicans just made Jim Jordan their Minority Leader
About this source
Pressley's post reacting to Jordan's election as House Republican leader, listing what she describes as his record.
- Author
- Rep. Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley)
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
States Newsroom: US House Republicans elect Ohio firebrand Jim Jordan to lead party in next Congress
Relevant passage: Article text, as published by the Daily Montanan
About this source
States Newsroom report on the closed-door vote, the other leadership races and the size of the incoming Republican minority.
- Author
- Ariana Figueroa and Shauneen Miranda, States Newsroom
- Published
- Accessed
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- Title
- House Republicans elect Jim Jordan as their leader after midterm losses; Brian Mast and Anna Paulina Luna praise his fighting style, and Ted Lieu says the party chose the more extreme candidate
- First published
- Last updated
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The Dispute Index. "House Republicans elect Jim Jordan as their leader after midterm losses; Brian Mast and Anna Paulina Luna praise his fighting style, and Ted Lieu says the party chose the more extreme candidate". First published: 2026-11-13. Last updated: 2026-11-13. https://disputeindex.com/cases/house-republicans-elect-jim-jordan-leader-reactions