Speaker Mike Johnson steps down as House GOP leader after midterm losses

House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, told his staff on a phone call Wednesday morning that he will not stay on as Republican leader in the new Congress, according to four sources on the call ¹. The announcement came a day after Democrats won the House majority ¹.

Johnson has served two terms as speaker, having been elected after Republicans ousted Representative Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California, from the top job in 2023 ¹. Newsweek reported that his exit brings his three-year tenure as the party's leader to a close ².

On tapeForbes Breaking News · Nov 4

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Democrats captured at least 21 Republican-held seats on Tuesday, enough to retake control of the chamber, according to Newsweek ². CBS News projected that Democrats will take control of the House in January ³.

Johnson's departure leaves open the position of House minority leader. House Republicans plan to hold their leadership elections on Nov. 10, one week after Election Day, according to a GOP aide familiar with the planning ³.

From Channel GOPEl-Sayed: Medicaid cuts timed for after midtermsAbdul El-Sayed · 156 plays · captioned, with the source named

Majority Leader Steve Scalise, also of Louisiana, and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio are positioned as leading possibilities to succeed Johnson, Newsweek reported ². CBS News also identified Scalise and Jordan as considered likely candidates for the role ³.

Johnson had previously left open the possibility of leading his conference from the minority, although fellow Republicans had questioned whether he would ultimately pursue the job, according to Newsweek ². CBS News reported that Johnson recently said he intended to remain as the party's leader if Republicans lost control of the House ³.

On tapePBS NewsHour · Nov 4

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Johnson spent much of the campaign's closing stretch traveling to competitive districts to protect the Republican majority, Newsweek reported ².

What happens next

The internal Republican election on Nov. 10 will select the party's candidate for minority leader ³. That vote will signal how House Republicans intend to regroup against the new Democratic Congress.

The leadership fight will define how Republicans position themselves for the next two years.

The Record

1. Jan 1, 2023Johnson was elected speaker after Republicans ousted Kevin McCarthy from the top job in 2023 ¹.
2. Nov 3, 2026Democrats won the House majority, capturing at least 21 Republican-held seats ¹².
3. Nov 4, 2026Johnson told staff he will not stay on as Republican leader in the new Congress ¹³.
4. Nov 10, 2026House Republicans plan to hold their leadership elections ³.

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<h2>Speaker Mike Johnson steps down as House GOP leader after midterm losses</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Capitol Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/speaker-mike-johnson-steps-down-as-house-gop-leader-after-midterm-losses">The GOP Files</a> on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.</em></p> <p>House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, told his staff on a phone call Wednesday morning that he will not stay on as Republican leader in the new Congress, according to four sources on the call . The announcement came a day after Democrats won the House majority .</p> <p>Johnson has served two terms as speaker, having been elected after Republicans ousted Representative Kevin McCarthy, Republican of California, from the top job in 2023 . Newsweek reported that his exit brings his three-year tenure as the party&#39;s leader to a close .</p> <p>Democrats captured at least 21 Republican-held seats on Tuesday, enough to retake control of the chamber, according to Newsweek . CBS News projected that Democrats will take control of the House in January .</p> <p>Johnson&#39;s departure leaves open the position of House minority leader. House Republicans plan to hold their leadership elections on Nov. 10, one week after Election Day, according to a GOP aide familiar with the planning .</p> <p>Majority Leader Steve Scalise, also of Louisiana, and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio are positioned as leading possibilities to succeed Johnson, Newsweek reported . CBS News also identified Scalise and Jordan as considered likely candidates for the role .</p> <p>Johnson had previously left open the possibility of leading his conference from the minority, although fellow Republicans had questioned whether he would ultimately pursue the job, according to Newsweek . CBS News reported that Johnson recently said he intended to remain as the party&#39;s leader if Republicans lost control of the House .</p> <p>Johnson spent much of the campaign&#39;s closing stretch traveling to competitive districts to protect the Republican majority, Newsweek reported .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>The internal Republican election on Nov. 10 will select the party&#39;s candidate for minority leader . That vote will signal how House Republicans intend to regroup against the new Democratic Congress.</p> <p>The leadership fight will define how Republicans position themselves for the next two years.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/speaker-mike-johnson-steps-down-as-house-gop-leader-after-midterm-losses">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/speaker-mike-johnson-steps-down-as-house-gop-leader-after-midterm-losses.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. NBC News, “House Speaker Mike Johnson will not stay on as Republican leader after GOP losses” (2026-11-04). nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-speaker-mike-johnson-rep
2. Newsweek, “Mike Johnson Makes Major Announcement After Republicans Lose House” (2026-11-04). newsweek.com/mike-johnson-house-republicans-gop-leadership-1
3. CBS News, “Mike Johnson won't seek new term as House GOP leader after losses” (2026-11-04). cbsnews.com/news/house-speaker-mike-johnson-minority-leader-

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