Johnson's decision follows election night defeats that stripped Republicans of control, an outcome he attributed to the historical challenges facing a sitting president's party during midterms. Throughout his two terms succeeding Kevin McCarthy, Johnson closely coordinated with the Trump administration while managing a narrow majority vulnerable to single defections. New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries is now positioned to take the gavel with a comfortable governing margin. If elected by the incoming House, Jeffries will make history as the chamber's first Black speaker.
Key points
Johnson will officially vacate the top House Republican leadership role after two terms a…: Johnson will officially vacate the top House Republican leadership role after two terms as speaker.
Managing the narrow majority previously required Johnson to maintain party unity amid the…: Managing the narrow majority previously required Johnson to maintain party unity amid the constant threat of individual defections.
Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries is expected to secure a comfortable governing m…: Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries is expected to secure a comfortable governing margin to advance his party's priorities.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Midterms coverage: Live results | Takeaways | Stories around the country
After a bruising defeat for Republicans, House Speaker Mike Johnson does not plan to stay on as Republican leader in the new Congress, according to a source familiar with his plans who was not authorized to discuss them publicly.
The Louisiana Republican served two terms as speaker, elected after his predecessor, California Rep. Kevin McCarthy, was ousted in 2023.
Johnson's decision will open a role for the top House leadership position in the minority. Republicans are scheduled to hold their leadership elections on Nov. 10.
Historically, the president's party loses seats in midterm elections. The blue wave soared past the expectations of many in Washington, flipping seats in traditionally red states that the president has won previously.
Johnson nodded to that history in remarks Tuesday night.
"From the first day of this election, we knew that to keep the House and sustain our majority, we would have to defy more than a century of midterm history. It's…
The Treasury Department is aggressively escalating enforcement against international evasion networks that channel vital resources to Tehran's military and regional proxies. By targeting facilitators across maritime transport and aerospace, Washington aims to cut off foreign support mechanisms keeping Iranian trade operational under existing restrictions. This latest pressure campaign exposes how commercial actors outside Iran manipulate vessel registrations to bypass strict global trade barriers.
Local communities across the nation mounted an aggressive resistance against artificial intelligence infrastructure during the recent election cycle, complicating expansion plans for tech companies and Wall Street financiers. This widespread public pushback significantly reshaped marquee political races, unseating prominent incumbents in states targeted for major facility buildouts.
Speaking outside a White House construction site, the president concurred with earlier assessments made by Vice President JD Vance regarding the party's midterm performance. He asserted that the conflict was unavoidable because it was the only long-term way to stop Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Short-term increases in gasoline prices were cited as the primary economic driver behind the political backlash.