a woman walks into a room
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson arrives to a news conference after a House Republican meeting in the US Capitol building on 21 July 2026 in Washington DC. Photograph: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson arrives to a news conference after a House Republican meeting in the US Capitol building on 21 July 2026 in Washington DC. Photograph: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Mike Johnson says he will not pursue House minority leader role – reports

Reported move from the Republican speaker of the House comes in light of the party’s disastrous midterms defeat

Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House, has said he is not planning to pursue the role of minority leader once his party loses its majority in the chamber, according to multiple reports.

Coming in light of Republicans’ disastrous midterm defeat, Johnson’s decision effectively yields the position of highest ranking Republican in the House to whichever member of his party can claim it.

The announcement came to light just moments after Fox News reported on Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the matter, that Ohio Republican Jim Jordan, chair of the House judiciary committee, was planning an effort to oust Johnson to take the position of minority leader.

It’s wouldn’t be the first time that Jordan has gunned for the House Republicans’ top job. Jordan previously sought to claim the title after Kevin McCarthy, the previous Republican speaker of the House, lost the job in 2023, but failed to net enough votes from members of the chamber.

More details soon …