Speaker Johnson Won't Run for GOP Leader After Midterm Losses

House Speaker Mike Johnson will not seek to lead House Republicans in the next Congress, according to multiple news outlets that cited people on a Wednesday morning call with his staff. The decision, reported one day after Democrats won control of the House, sets up an open race for House minority leader.

Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, told his staff in a phone call Wednesday morning that he will not stay on as Republican leader in the new Congress, NBC News reported, citing four sources on the call. NBC News reported that his future plans are not known. Fox News Digital reported that Johnson told staff he is not running for minority leader, and ABC News reported the same, citing multiple sources familiar with the call.

BREAKING: Speaker Mike Johnson tells staff he is NOT running for House minority leader, Fox News Digital has learned.

The decision comes as Rep. Jim Jordan is running for the position, setting up a leadership shakeup for House Republicans as they prepare for their next chapter… pic.twitter.com/jNWedcRT3G

— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 4, 2026

A crowded race to replace him

The Hill reported, citing two GOP staffers, that House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio are both expected to launch bids for minority leader. Fox News Digital reported that Jordan is running for the position. CBS News described both men as likely candidates for the role.

House Republicans plan to hold their leadership elections on Nov. 10, one week after Election Day, CBS News reported, citing a GOP aide familiar with the planning. NBC News also reported that the internal vote to select the party’s candidate for the post is scheduled for next week.

The Washington Examiner reported that Johnson’s decision clears the way for Scalise and Jordan to enter the race, and The Hill reported that the contest could become contentious as Republicans grapple with their diminished standing in Washington.

A reversal after election night

The announcement marks a change from Johnson’s earlier position. CBS News reported that Johnson had recently told the network he intended to remain as the party’s leader if Republicans lost control of the House.

Johnson has served two terms as speaker after Republicans ousted Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California from the top job in 2023, NBC News noted. CBS News projected that Democrats will take control of the House in January.

For conservatives, the leadership vote next week will be the first real test of which direction the House GOP takes into a two-year stretch in the minority, with a Democratic House and Senate expected to challenge President Trump’s agenda. Whoever wins the job will be responsible for holding a smaller conference together and laying the groundwork for a comeback in 2028.

Johnson had not made a public statement on the decision as of Wednesday morning, based on the reports. Daily Beltway will update this story as Johnson and the leadership candidates speak publicly.

Sources

• NBC News: House Speaker Mike Johnson will not stay on as Republican leader after GOP losses
• CBS News: Speaker Mike Johnson won’t seek another term as House GOP leader after midterm losses
• The Hill: Mike Johnson bows out of minority leader bid after GOP defeat
• Washington Examiner: Mike Johnson won’t run for minority leader
• Fox News on X

Reporting by Daily Beltway.