GOP TURNS THE PAGE: Jordan, Thune Lead Republicans as New Leadership Sets Sights on 2028

WASHINGTON, D.C. — One week after a bruising midterm election that handed Democrats control of Congress, House and Senate Republicans moved Tuesday to turn the page, electing their leadership teams and beginning the difficult work of rebuilding their congressional majorities ahead of 2028.

House Republicans elected Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan as their next minority leader, while Senate Republicans retained South Dakota Senator John Thune. The leadership elections also brought a new chairman to the National Republican Congressional Committee, with Georgia Congressman Brian Jack taking charge of the House GOP’s campaign operation.

Jordan defeated Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise in a 106-73 secret ballot after outgoing Speaker Mike Johnson declined to seek another leadership position. A founding member of the House Freedom Caucus and longtime chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Jordan enters the role as Republicans prepare for two years of confronting Democrat control of the House.

“Over the next two years, House Republicans will fight for American families. When Democrats offer more government, we’ll offer more freedom,” Jordan declared following his victory, pledging to take that fight to congressional committees, the House floor and the campaign trail.

Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer also secured another term as Republican whip, defeating Texas Congressman August Pfluger. Emmer, who has served as majority whip since 2023, will become the second-ranking House Republican under Jordan and play a central role in coordinating the party’s legislative strategy.

Following his victory, Emmer pledged to rebuild public confidence in the party, declaring that Republicans would work over the next two years to regain the trust of voters and reclaim the House majority in 2028.

Perhaps one of the most consequential leadership decisions for the party’s political future came with the election of Congressman Brian Jack as the next NRCC chairman.

Jack defeated Indiana Congressman Rudy Yakym to succeed outgoing Chairman Richard Hudson, who lost his reelection bid in North Carolina. The Georgia Republican inherits a campaign committee facing the task of rebuilding its ranks after Democrats flipped more than 40 House seats in the midterms.

A former political director in President Donald Trump’s first administration and senior adviser to his 2024 presidential campaign, Jack brings extensive national campaign experience to the position. He also served as the NRCC’s recruitment chairman during the previous election cycle.

His responsibilities will include recruiting candidates, raising money and directing the national strategy to compete for competitive congressional districts, including seats across Nevada. With Democrats preparing to govern from the majority, Republicans will be looking for opportunities to challenge their legislative record while rebuilding the coalition that delivered them control of Washington in 2024.

Across the Capitol, Senate Republicans opted for continuity, reelected Thune despite objections from some members who wanted additional time to examine the party’s election losses. Senators voted 31-15 to proceed with leadership elections, and Thune ultimately faced no challenger.