Authored by Zachary Stieber via The Epoch Times,
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is no longer going to be the top Republican in the House soon.
Johnson will not run to be the Republican House leader in the next Congress, a spokesman told The Epoch Times in an email on Nov. 4.
Johnson, 54, has been House speaker since 2023 and won another term representing Louisiana's Fourth Congressional District. He told supporters on Tuesday that he and other candidates gave it their all, but were unable to defy the history of whichever party holds the presidency losing seats in the middle of a term.
Johnson said it has been an honor serving as the 56th House speaker and later added that he is optimistic about the future.
"Republicans will not be deterred by the outcome of one election. In fact, you know what we do? We double down. We double down. All right," he said. "We will continue pressing forward with our agenda of common sense and our vision to make America great again. And come 2028, we will take back the House and we will finish this job."
Among the options to succeed Johnson will be Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who told GOP colleagues on Wednesday that he will run for the top Republican post.
"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," Jordan wrote in a letter.
He noted that Democrats have pledged to investigate administration officials.
"I am battle-tested on the oversight front and I know the Democrats' playbook," Jordan said. "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 has tried several times to become the top Republican in the House, but failed
Democrats are projected to have at least 233 House members in the next Congress, well above the 218 needed for a majority. They have also flipped control of the Senate.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who is expected to become the next House speaker in January, told reporters in Washington on Wednesday that the win was "a stunning rebuke of MAGA extremism."
He said Democrats plan to work to make life more affordable for Americans of all walks of life.