Mike Johnson not running to lead House GOP after historic midterm losses

Fox News, NBC News and The Guardian report that House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, will not seek to head House Republicans once his party moves into the minority. Johnson gave staff the word on a Wednesday morning call, one day after Democrats captured the chamber; NBC News counts four sources on that call, while Fox News cites two. Fox News projects Hakeem Jeffries as the next speaker.

The decision opens the top GOP post. NBC News says Republicans will hold an internal vote on Nov. 10 to pick their candidate for minority leader. Fox News and The Guardian both tie the news to Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, though they describe his move differently: Fox News calls it a bid for minority leader, while The Guardian says he was organizing an effort to push Johnson aside.

Fox News adds that Johnson, who won the gavel in October 2023 after Kevin McCarthy was ousted, spent recent months campaigning nationwide for Republican candidates, and conceded the House at his election night party in Shreveport.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News, NBC News and The Guardian’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News → Also at NBC News → Also at The Guardian →