Speaker Mike Johnson Won't Seek House Republican Leadership Post in New Congress
House Speaker Mike Johnson will step aside from Republican Party leadership after the GOP's loss of the House in the November 3 midterm elections, declining to seek the post of House minority leader in the new Congress, the Associated Press reported on November 4. Democrats will hold the majority when the new Congress convenes in January.
Johnson explained the decision in a letter to House Republican colleagues on Wednesday. In the letter, obtained by Axios, he said he made the decision "with a heart full of gratitude and an abiding sense of pride in what we have accomplished together," and that after three years as speaker, during which leadership demanded significant sacrifices from his family, "the time has come for me to give them more of the attention and presence they so richly deserve."
Johnson is not leaving Congress. He won re-election on November 3 in Louisiana's 4th Congressional District and is expected to serve as a rank-and-file member in the new Congress. He has been speaker since 2023.
In a statement after election night, Johnson acknowledged the midterm outcome was not what Republicans had hoped for, said Republicans "will never stop fighting," and vowed to take back the House in 2028. President Donald Trump said he did not ask Johnson to step down, according to USA Today.
Two contenders have emerged to succeed him: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio both say they will run for the top Republican post, and House Republicans are expected to elect their new leader next week.
(Source: Associated Press)
Source: Associated Press
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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