Following the dramatic results of the midtern elections, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson plans to step down from his role when Democrats take control of both Congress and the Senate in January.
Politico reports that the Louisiana congressman revealed his plans during a private call with staffers on the morning of Wednesday, November 4, as confirmed by two people who were on that call.
A Difficult Decision
Per Politco, Johnson informed his staff that he’d spoken with President Donald Trump before announcing his decision to step down; one of the people on the call said he didn’t address whether he planned to resign his seat or will be sworn in as a member of the next Congress.
In a letter that Johnson sent to colleagues, obtained by Politico, he wrote that serving as speaker was the “greatest professional honor” of his life. He also wrote that it “not an easy decision” to step down, but explained the “demands of serving in leadership are immense” and “require sacrifices” that have impacted both him and his family.
“After three years in this role, I believe the time has come for me to give them more of the attention and presence they so richly deserve,” he said. “I make this decision with a heart full of gratitude and an abiding sense of pride in what we have accomplished together.”
He added, “I will always treasure the friendships we forged, the battles we fought together, and the victories we achieved against seemingly impossible odds.”
A Leadership Battle
Johnson’s decision opens up a void that two of his congressional colleagues are eager to fill: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan. According to Politcio, both Jordan and Jordan have been “quietly laying the groundwork for months.”
Sure enough, Jordan formally entered the leadership race later that same day. In a letter the Ohio congressman wrote to his Republican colleagues (via The Hill), Jordan declared that “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.”
He continued by declaring that he is “battle-tested on the oversight front” and “I know the Democrats’ playbook,” adding, “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 previously ran for speaker in 2023, but failed to gain the necessary support.
Scalise likewise launched his bid on Wednesday, also sending a letter to his fellow Republicans in the House.
“Last night’s election was far worse than any of us expected,” he began. “The socialists are coming to Washington with a radical agenda that threatens the America we hold dear,” Scalise continued. “They will stop at nothing to undo the progress we’ve made alongside President Trump over the last two years. The House Republican Conference must be the first line of defense in this crucial battle, and we must fight like our way of life depends on it — because it does.”
“I am always honest about our challenges but work to solve them in the most conservative and consensus-driven way possible,” he added. “That’s what you’ve come to expect from me and that will be more important than ever in the next two years.”
What is now a two-man race could expand, with reports that House Majority Whip Tom Emmer and Rep. August Pfluger of Texas are also mulling over whether to launch their own bids for the position.
Republican lawmakers have until noon on Friday, November 6 to declare their intent to run.
Mike Johnson to Step Down as GOP House Leader, Setting Off Internal Power Struggle