US Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) speaks to the media on the day of Senate Republican caucus leadership elections at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, November 10, 2026. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon

US House Republicans choose Jim Jordan as their next party leader

· Yahoo News UK
US Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) walks on the day of Senate Republican caucus leadership elections at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, November 10, 2026. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon
U.S. Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) speaks during a U.S. House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on sanctuary city policies, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 30, 2026. REUTERS/Aaron Schwartz

US Senate Republican caucus leadership elections in Washington, DC

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US Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) speaks to the media on the day of Senate Republican caucus leadership elections at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, November 10, 2026. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Republicans in the US House of Representatives elected conservative Jim Jordan on Tuesday ‌to lead the chamber's incoming Republican minority during the ‌final two years of President Donald Trump's presidency, US media said.

A secret ballot ​held behind closed doors elevated the Ohio Republican and House Judiciary Committee chairman to the minority leadership post a week after Democrats swept to victory in last Tuesday's midterm elections, winning sizable majorities ‌in both the House ⁠and Senate.

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Both Punchbowl News and Fox News reported Jordan's victory.

House Speaker Mike Johnson opted not to stand ⁠for the leadership position.

Across the Capitol, Senate Republicans met behind closed doors to decide whether to push forward with internal elections that were ​expected ​to retain US Senator John Thune, ​a South Dakota Republican, ‌as the party leader or opt for a delay that could allow a challenger to emerge.

The House and Senate leadership elections will help determine what role Republicans intend to play as the minority party in Congress during the final two years of Trump's presidency.

Democrats ‌will need Republican support to move major ​initiatives in the 100-member Senate, where ​the filibuster rule requires ​60 votes for most legislation. Their majorities in ‌both chambers also fall well short ​of the two-thirds ​votes needed to override presidential vetoes.

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After the midterm elections, Thune vowed that Republicans would work with Trump to block "Democrat extremism" ​and work against ‌any attempt by Democrats to unwind Republican achievements including ​border security and judicial appointments.

(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by ​Michael Learmonth and Alistair Bell)