Jim Jordan becomes new House GOP leader after closed-door vote, defeating Steve Scalise
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan defeated Majority Leader Steve Scalise in a closed-door election for minority leader on Tuesday, sources told Fox News Digital.
Jordan’s victory, a narrow win, was met with loud, sustained applause from the hallway outside the closed-door meeting.
The voting body included incumbent House Republicans and GOP members-elect projected to win their races from last week's midterms.
Votes were cast via secret ballot, allowing lawmakers to choose without public pressure.
Leadership forum and candidates' pitches
Republicans huddled for a candidate forum on Tuesday morning where all GOP lawmakers running for leadership positions were peppered with questions by their colleagues.
Sources inside the room said Scalise and Jordan both pitched themselves as the best person to unify the conference.
They signaled they would give a wide berth for lawmakers to 'vote their districts,' as one person put it.
I personally like Steve, but he's been in leadership since before I was in Congress. And Jim Jordan, while he's a leader in Congress, he hasn't been part of the leadership team. He basically rose through the ranks because he was super effective.
Rising star and next step
Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, another Jordan ally, told Fox News Digital the Ohio Republican 'understands what we're up against,' adding, 'His ability to communicate is really kind of unrivaled by anybody else in the House right now.'
Jordan has long been among the House GOP's brightest stars, rapidly gaining influence over the last decade as one of Trump's most vocal supporters in Washington.
He will now be the go-to defender as Democrats ready a barrage of investigations targeting Trump's Cabinet, family and business interests.
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