House Republicans face leadership reckoning after midterm bloodbath

House Republicans will choose their new leader in the minority on Tuesday, following a significant loss in recent elections. The two main candidates are House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio. The vote is expected to take place in the afternoon.

Scalise and Jordan have previously contested for the position of House speaker. Neither of them managed to secure the position after Kevin McCarthy was removed from office about three years ago, with Mike Johnson eventually taking over. With the Republicans now in the minority, the winner of this race will face the challenge of regaining control in the House when President Donald Trump's final two years in office begin.

Scalise, 61, has held various leadership positions within the GOP since 2014, including party whip and majority leader. He was seriously injured in 2017 when a gunman attacked a Republican baseball practice. In 2023, he battled multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that was successfully treated. Scalise believes overcoming adversity is something he is familiar with.

Jordan, 62, is a co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus and has been its first chairman. He has also served as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee for the past four years. Jordan emphasizes that the party's mission is to highlight the radicalism of the Democratic Party, rather than defending against it. Both candidates have faced similar situations before and are familiar with the politics involved.

Scalise has highlighted his success in delivering legislative victories, such as the tax and spending cut bill under President Trump. He has also raised $67.9 million for the midterms, with a significant portion going towards individual House campaigns and the National Republican Congressional Committee. Jordan, on the other hand, warns of the Democratic party's plans to investigate the Trump administration.

Some members of the Republican party, like Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland and Rep. Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, argue that a new leader with fresh perspectives is needed to steer the party back to power in 2028. Others, like Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas, see both candidates as viable options, with Scalise having a track record of legislative success and Jordan possessing excellent communication skills.