Jim Jordan Beats Steve Scalise 106-73 to Lead House Republicans

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio won a closed-door vote on Tuesday to become House Republicans' leader in the next Congress, defeating Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, according to Fox News Digital. Sources in the room told the outlet the tally was 106 votes for Jordan and 73 for Scalise.

The result puts Jordan, the House Judiciary Committee chairman, in position to be President Donald Trump's leading defender in Congress next year, as Democrats prepare investigations aimed at Trump's Cabinet, family and business interests, Fox News Digital reported.

What did the vote show?

Jordan beat Scalise, who is currently the second-ranking House Republican, in what Fox News Digital described as a race believed to be narrow. The outlet said it heard loud, sustained applause in the hallway outside the room when Jordan's win became official.

Fox News Digital wrote that the outcome showed House Republicans wanted change. It tied the result to what it called a historic loss for the party in state and federal races in last week's midterm elections.

Who voted, and how?

The electorate was made up of incumbent House Republicans and Republican members-elect who are projected to win their races from the midterms. Ballots were secret, so no one in the room had to say how they voted.

What did the candidates say beforehand?

Earlier on Tuesday, Republicans held a forum where everyone running for a leadership post faced questions from colleagues. People inside the room told Fox News Digital that Jordan and Scalise each presented themselves as the best choice to unify the conference. Both also signaled they would give members wide room to "vote their districts," as one person put it.

Fox News Digital was told the session was largely cordial. Lawmakers asked how each candidate would bring the conference together after the midterm losses and how each would handle leaks to journalists. Jordan told the outlet he thought the forum went well but said he does not share details of closed-door meetings.

Why did colleagues back Jordan?

Allies offered their reasons to Fox News Digital. Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio said he likes Scalise personally but noted that Scalise has been in leadership since before Davidson arrived in Congress. Davidson said Jordan had not been part of the leadership team and rose through the ranks because he was effective.

Rep. Scott Fitzgerald of Wisconsin said Jordan "understands what we're up against." He added that Jordan's ability to communicate is unrivaled by anyone else in the House right now.

Fox News Digital described Jordan as one of the House GOP's brightest stars, with rapidly growing influence over the past decade as one of Trump's most vocal supporters in Washington.

Why does it matter?

The vote sets who will lead House Republicans through the next two years, after the midterm losses led Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana to announce he was stepping aside. According to Fox News Digital, Johnson said he would not seek another leadership position during that period.

For voters, the practical significance is in how Republicans will face the incoming Democratic investigations. Fox News Digital reported that Jordan will be the go-to defender of the president and his circle as those inquiries begin. The leader's choices on messaging, on responding to oversight and on managing members who want to vote according to their districts will shape how the party presents itself in the new Congress.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by Fox News

Cover photo: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped