House Speaker Mike Johnson Steps Aside After Midterm Defeat

House Speaker Mike Johnson has decided not to run for another term as the leader of the House Republican Conference. This decision comes in the wake of significant losses for the party in the midterm elections held on Tuesday, according to a report by CBS News released on Wednesday.

The Speaker informed his staff of his intention to step down during a conference call held on Wednesday morning. Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that Johnson made the announcement following the election results, which shifted the balance of power in the chamber.

Two prominent figures within the party have already signaled their interest in succeeding Johnson. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio both expressed their desire to lead the Republican Conference. They outlined their respective platforms in letters sent to their colleagues on Wednesday.

In a letter obtained by CBS News, Scalise emphasized the urgency of the political situation. He stated that his primary objective as the new leader would be to regain the majority. He wrote that he expected his colleagues to hold him accountable to this mission, noting that success would require effectiveness in both oversight and legislative battles. He also stressed the need to present a clear and optimistic vision for the country.

Jim Jordan took a similar approach in his letter to the conference. He described the day as staggering for the group and criticized the previous strategy of operating without a long-term plan. Jordan argued that a short-term survival tactic would not be sufficient against what he termed an emboldened and energetic Democrat majority. He claimed to understand the opposing party's playbook and said he knew how to keep the conference unified and coordinate a calibrated response to their tactics.

The timeline for the leadership transition is already set. House Republicans are scheduled to hold their leadership elections on November 10, exactly one week after the midterm elections. Candidates must declare their intentions by Friday, according to reports from Axios.

This latest development marks a shift from Johnson's previous public statements. In an interview with CBS News in October, the Speaker had indicated that he intended to remain in his leadership role even if Republicans lost their majority in the November elections. He had suggested that his colleagues would likely ask him to continue leading the conference despite a divided government.

However, Johnson had previously shown openness to a different path. In an earlier conversation with Fox News, he mused about potentially returning to his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, if the party lost control of the House. He joked that if fate dictated he should start a lawn business, he would pursue it with equal fervor.

Johnson was first elected as Speaker of the House in October 2023. He assumed the role following the removal of Kevin McCarthy, who became the first Speaker in US history to be voted out of office. Johnson secured his re-election to the position in January 2025, winning with 218 votes, which was the minimum number required to claim the speakership.

The departure of Johnson from the race leaves the field open for other contenders as the party prepares for its new role in the minority. The upcoming election on November 10 will determine who guides the Republican Conference in the years to come.