House GOP faces post-midterm reckoning.
House Republicans head into the leadership election bruised, divided and under pressure to explain how a party that once dominated the chamber lost it so badly — and who should be trusted to lead it back.
The races are already taking shape as competitions between an attempt and an uprising. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan is challenging Majority Leader Steve Scalise for Minority Leader. Republican Study Committee Chairman August Felger is facing off against Whip Tom Amer and Reps. Greg Staub and Erin Houchin are both challenging Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain.
The stakes go far beyond who gets which title: the election will shape the direction of the party, its rebuilding strategy and its chances of regaining the majority in 2028.
A growing number of Republicans say the losses exposed failures in both leadership and messaging. Representative Warren Davidson did not mince words and wrote that "turning on gas did not lower the cost of gas, houses or health care. He praised Chairman Johnson for stepping aside respectfully, adding: "We cannot expect different results from those leaders. ".
Scalise positions himself as a proven hand who can unite the conference. Jordan, one of the founders of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, claims that the Republicans "acted without a clear plan to survive the hour or the day ahead" - and one lawmaker defined the moment in combat terms: "We are entering a situation of war where we are going to be an alliance of rebels, and we will need someone who knows how to fight. ".
President Trump said he would stay out of the race for minority leader, even though several candidates he supported lost last week.