It is not clear who will succeed Mike Johnson, the Republican House of Representatives leader.
By Catholics for Catholics
On Wednesday, Speaker Mike Johnson told Republican aides that he would not pursue the leadership of the House G.O.P. conference in the minority, after the conquest of Congress by the Democrats.
Johnson’s decision paves the way for new Republican leadership in the chamber after the party’s thrashing in the midterm elections. Three years ago, Johnson rose to the most powerful position in the House after the faction of his party expelled then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
According to the Epoch Times, Johnson, 54, has been House speaker since 2023 and won another term representing Louisiana’s Fourth Congressional District. On Tuesday he told supporters that he and other candidates fought with everything, but were unable to defy the history of whichever party holds the presidency losing seats in the middle of a term.
In addition, Johnson said it has been an honor serving as the 56th House speaker and later added that he is optimistic about the future.
“Republicans will not be deterred by the outcome of one election. In fact, you know what we do? We double down. We double down. All right,” he said. “We will continue pressing forward with our agenda of common sense and our vision to make America great again. And come 2028, we will take back the House and we will finish this job.”
Among the candidates to be the successor of Johnson is Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who told GOP colleagues on Wednesday that he will run for the top Republican post.
“For too long, we have operated without a clear plan to survive the hour or the day in front of us. That will not cut it against an emboldened and energetic Democrat majority,” Jordan wrote in a letter.
He said that Democrats have vowed to probe administration officials.
“I am battle-tested on the oversight front and I know the Democrats’ playbook,” Jordan said. “I know what it will take to lead our Conference in the minority, to stay unified, and to coordinate and calibrate our response to the Democrats’ tactics. We need a Leadership team that is active and engaged, forward-thinking and straight-shooting.”
Jordan has tried several times to become the top Republican in the House, but failed
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