Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House, has said he is not planning to pursue the role of minority leader once his party loses its majority in the chamber, according to multiple reports.
Coming in light of Republicans’ disastrous midterm defeat, Johnson’s decision effectively yields the position of highest-ranking Republican in the House to whichever member of his party can claim it.
The announcement came to light just moments after Fox News reported on Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the matter, that the Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, chair of the House judiciary committee, was planning an effort to oust Johnson to take the position of minority leader.
It would not be the first time that Jordan has gunned for the House Republicans’ top job. Jordan previously sought to claim the title after Kevin McCarthy, the previous Republican speaker of the House, lost the job in 2023, but failed to net enough votes from members of the chamber.
