House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) will not seek a leadership position in the upcoming Congress following Republican losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections. According to sources familiar with his plans, Johnson will step down as the top House Republican in January but intends to remain in the House as a rank-and-file member. He recently won reelection to an eighth term representing his Shreveport-area district.
Johnson assumed the speakership in 2023 after the removal of former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). During his time as speaker, Johnson maintained a close working relationship with President Donald Trump, often discussing policy and strategy through nearly daily phone calls. He led the House through a period marked by a narrow Republican majority.
Following the election results, Johnson noted that the president's party traditionally loses seats during midterms, stating that it has only happened twice in 90 years that a sitting president’s party gained or held seats during the first two-year cycle. While Johnson had expressed confidence that Republicans would defy this historical trend, Democratic gains resulted in a shift in House control.
The scale of this leadership change follows a midterm cycle where Democrats flipped seats in traditionally Republican-leaning states. The margin is described as comfortable enough for Jeffries to potentially manage defections from some lawmakers elected with the support of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Internal Republican leadership contests will now determine who leads the minority conference. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), the current majority leader, has indicated he will run for the top leadership post. He is expected to face a challenge from Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). House Republicans are scheduled to hold their internal leadership elections next week. The formal election for Speaker of the House by the full chamber is scheduled for January 3, 2027.