Midterm Carnage Triggers GOP Gamble

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House Republicans picked a bare-knuckle fighter to lead them into the minority, while Senate Republicans stuck with the steady hand already in charge.

Quick Take

House Republicans elected Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio as their next leader, defeating Rep. Steve Scalise 106-73 in a closed-door, secret-ballot vote on November 10, 2026.
Jordan will serve as House minority leader after the GOP lost its majority in the midterm elections.
Senate Republicans reelected Sen. John Thune as their leader by acclamation, after first voting 31-15 to proceed despite calls to delay.
Both leadership decisions came the same day, as Republicans regrouped from steep losses across Congress.

Jordan Wins A Tight Race Against Scalise

House Republicans gathered behind closed doors to pick their next leader. Jim Jordan beat Steve Scalise by a vote of 106 to 73, according to people present for the tally. The contest marked a clear break from the old guard and handed the gavel of party leadership to a lawmaker long known for sharp elbows and loyalty to President Trump.

News outlets across the spectrum confirmed the same 106-73 breakdown, citing sources familiar with the private vote. The Judiciary Committee chairman now takes over as House minority leader for the next Congress, stepping into the job after Republicans lost their majority in the midterms. It is a demotion in title but not in attention, since Jordan built his reputation fighting from the minority before.

Why The Secret Ballot Still Matters

House leadership elections have worked this way for more than a century. Members vote by secret ballot inside their party conference, a tradition meant to let lawmakers choose freely without fear of payback. That means the public gets the final score, 106-73 in this case, but not a member-by-member record of who backed which candidate. The process is private by design, not by accident, and it has been the standard since before most voters alive today were born.

Jordan’s win fits a pattern conservative voters have watched for years. He built his name as a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus and as a relentless questioner during high-profile hearings. Supporters see him as someone who will hold the new Democratic majority accountable instead of playing nice. Critics inside his own party worried a confrontational leader could complicate deal-making, but 106 Republicans decided that fight was exactly what the moment called for.

Thune Survives A Push To Delay His Reelection

Across the Capitol, Senate Republicans faced their own leadership decision the same day. Before anyone voted on a leader, conservative critics pushed to delay the whole process. The conference voted 31-15 to proceed anyway, rejecting the request for more time. Sen. Ron Johnson confirmed the conference had chosen to move forward despite the objections.

Once the delay effort failed, Senate Republicans reelected John Thune as their leader by acclamation, meaning no formal roll call was needed because no one forced a contested vote. A Senate GOP aide announced the result, closing out a leadership fight that had simmered since conservative members first floated the idea of postponing the election days earlier.

A Day Of Regrouping After Steep Midterm Losses

Both elections landed on the same November day, framed by a brutal midterm cycle that cost Republicans their House majority and reshaped the Senate. Choosing Jordan and keeping Thune signals two different instincts inside the party: embrace a combative new face in the chamber where Republicans now play defense, and stick with proven leadership in the chamber where the margins stayed tighter.

One brief note of caution belongs here: the House vote total comes from people present for the closed-door session rather than an official released record, a normal feature of secret-ballot conference elections rather than any irregularity. The outcome itself, Jordan as House minority leader and Thune reelected to lead Senate Republicans, was reported consistently across outlets the same day.

What happens next will test both men quickly. Jordan inherits a conference bracing for fights over spending, oversight, and a new Democratic majority eager to set the agenda. Thune returns to steer a Senate GOP still recovering from losses, with the conservative wing that pushed for delay watching closely. The party chose experience in one chamber and combat readiness in the other, a split bet on what Republicans will need most over the next two years.