Jim Jordan, a hardline ally of President Donald Trump, was elected US House Republican leader on Tuesday, defeating Steve Scalise 106-73 in a secret ballot, US media reported. He replaces Mike Johnson after Republicans lost both chambers of Congress in last week’s midterm elections and will lead the party’s opposition.
Jim Jordan, a hardline ally of President Donald Trump, was elected leader of the Republicans in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday, defeating fellow conservative Steve Scalise as the party reckons with a crushing midterm election defeat.
Jordan, the combative chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, beat the current majority leader by 106 votes to 73 in a secret ballot, US media reported, putting him in charge of the party's opposition to the incoming Democratic majority.
The Ohio congressman will replace House Speaker Mike Johnson, who announced he was stepping down from leadership after Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress in last week's elections.
Senate Republicans meanwhile reelected John Thune as their leader, retaining their existing leadership team despite demands from conservatives for a reckoning over the election losses.
Jordan, a founding member of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, had pitched himself as the fighter Republicans need to confront Democrats during the final two years of Trump's presidency.
