Mike Johnson to Cede House Republican Leadership After Midterm Losses

House Speaker Mike Johnson plans to step down from his role as the top House Republican for the next Congress.

A source familiar with the plans said Johnson will not stay on as Republican leader following the party's performance in the midterm elections. The source was not authorized to discuss the decision publicly.

Johnson served two terms as speaker after California Rep. Kevin McCarthy was ousted in 2023. His decision opens the leadership contest for the presumptive minority party. Republicans are scheduled to hold their leadership elections on Nov. 10.

In remarks on Tuesday night, Johnson acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining a majority during a midterm cycle. He noted that a sitting president has held or gained seats for their party in the first two-year cycle only twice in 90 years.

During his tenure, Johnson maintained a close working relationship with the Trump administration while managing a razor-thin majority. That narrow margin meant a single Republican defection could jeopardize GOP priorities.

The next House speaker is expected to be Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Jeffries would become the first Black lawmaker elected to the position. His comfortable margin allows for greater flexibility in passing legislation compared to the fragile coalition Johnson managed.

Historical trends show the president's party typically loses seats in midterm elections. This cycle saw a larger-than-expected shift, with seats flipping in traditionally red states previously won by the president.