by Sharon Rondeau
(Nov. 10, 2026) — In a closed-door session on Capitol Hill Tuesday morning, congressional Republicans elected their leaders for the 120th Congress, which will be sworn in on January 3, 2027.
Following the November 3 midterm elections in which Republicans were resoundingly defeated, losing the majorities in the House and Senate, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson declared he would not seek the position of House Minority Leader.
The caucus election yielded Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-4) as House Minority Leader after he received 106 votes. Finishing in second place, Rep. Steve Scalise (LA-1) received 73 votes.
Scalise previously served as House Majority Leader and Republican Whip.
At a June 2017 practice session for the annual congressional baseball game, Scalise nearly lost his life and suffered significant injuries after a “domestic terrorist” opened fire. He also battled cancer several years ago.
Current Senate Majority Leader John Thune (SD) was re-elected minority leader for the next Congress. During the 6:00 p.m. ET news hour, he appeared in person with Fox News’s “Special Report” Executive Editor Bret Baier, during which he said, “We’ve been in the minority a lot more than we’ve been in the majority.”
In light of the Senate’s failure to pass the “Save America Act” and other legislation which passed the House over the last two years, Thune told Baier it is difficult to pass legislation through the Senate, where more votes are needed than the “simple majority” in the House.
Thune also told Baier he plans to confirm as many federal judge nominations as possible during the lame-duck session, which Trump continues to announce on Truth Social.
To Baier’s remark that many Americans are “angry” at Republicans for failing to adhere to an agenda which would have improved their economic conditions, Thune said he does not use “social media” as guidance for decision-making, whether from a minority or majority position.
Baier asked Thune why he would want to serve again in a leadership position, to which Thune responded, “I love the fight.”
Congressional Democrats have not yet held their leadership elections but appear split over whether current House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8) or Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) will automatically assume the roles.
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