In a closed-door secret-ballot vote on Tuesday, House Republicans have elected Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio as their minority leader. This marks a significant change as the caucus pivots to the hardline conservative and longtime Trump ally over Majority Leader Steve Scalise after midterm losses that returned Democrats to control of the chamber.

Speaker Mike Johnson had announced days earlier that he would not seek the leadership post, citing the toll of the job on his family after Republicans lost the House and Senate in what multiple reports described as a sweeping midterm defeat. The election sets Jordan as the highest-ranking House Republican when the new Congress convenes in January 2027, with Democrats expected to hold the majority and the Speakership.

Jordan, 62, has represented Ohio’s 4th Congressional District since 2007. A former college wrestler and coach—he was a two-time NCAA champion at the University of Wisconsin and a four-time Ohio high-school state champion—he later earned degrees in economics, education, and law before serving in the Ohio legislature.

In Congress he co-founded the House Freedom Caucus in 2015 and served as its first chairman, building a reputation as one of the conference’s most combative conservatives and a consistent opponent of party leadership he viewed as insufficiently principled. Former Speaker John Boehner once labeled him a “legislative terrorist.” He has chaired the House Judiciary Committee and has been among the most vocal defenders of Donald Trump through impeachments and other controversies.

The race was a rematch of sorts of the 2023 speakership contest that followed Kevin McCarthy’s ouster. Scalise had initially won the conference nomination then but withdrew when he could not secure floor votes; Jordan also failed to assemble a majority on the floor. This time, with no need for a full House majority, Jordan prevailed by pitching himself as “battle-tested” on oversight and better equipped to counter a Democratic majority expected to pursue investigations of the Trump administration, family business dealings, and related issues. Allies described him as more of a political attack dog than the more institutional Scalise, who had been in top leadership since 2014 and was viewed by some as too closely tied to the status quo blamed for the midterm losses.

Jordan’s selection signals a shift toward a more confrontational, Trump-aligned posture in the minority. He has long prioritized aggressive investigations and messaging over traditional legislative deal-making, a style that resonates with the Freedom Caucus wing but has drawn criticism for limiting his effectiveness as a lawmaker. As minority leader he will coordinate Republican responses to Democratic priorities, including anticipated oversight probes, while seeking to rebuild the conference’s standing ahead of 2028. Other leadership races, including for minority whip and conference chair, were also decided the same day.

The outcome reflects post-election frustration within the diminished GOP conference and a preference for a fighter over continuity. Whether Jordan’s approach helps Republicans regain the majority or deepens internal divisions will be tested over the next two years.