US House Speaker Johnson will not seek minority leadership post
- Speaker Mike Johnson will not run for minority leader, following the Republican party's loss of their House majority this week
WASHINGTON: US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson will not run for election as House minority leader, following the loss of his Republican majority in this week’s midterm elections, a source said on Wednesday.
Johnson, who has struggled to maintain control of a narrow 218-214 Republican majority since becoming speaker three years ago, announced his decision to staff on Wednesday morning, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The Louisiana Republican spent much of the 2026 midterm campaign insisting that Republicans would expand their House majority, only to see Democrats take control of both the House and Senate on Tuesday in a sweeping repudiation of Republican leadership under President Donald Trump.
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It was unclear who would emerge as House Republican leader in an internal party election expected next week. Conservative Jim Jordan of Ohio was expected to announce his candidacy later on Wednesday.