Republicans, Democrats select leaders for new Congress

Republicans, Democrats select next leaders for new Congress Republicans and Democrats are choosing their party leaders ahead of the new Congress Advertisement Updated: 6:58 AM EST Nov 11, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Amy Lu Washington Correspondent Matt Brown Charlee Caudill Producer Republicans, Democrats select next leaders for new Congress Republicans and Democrats are choosing their party leaders ahead of the new Congress Updated: 6:58 AM EST Nov 11, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Amy Lu Washington Correspondent Matt Brown Charlee Caudill Producer WASHINGTON — Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are selecting their party leaders ahead of the new session of Congress. Those elected will help set the direction of their party's agendas for the next two years. In a secret ballot vote Monday, House Republicans elected Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan as their new House minority leader, while South Dakota's Sen. John Thune will continue to lead Republicans as Senate Minority Leader. Advertisement Jordan will replace current House Speaker Mike Johnson, who elected to step aside when the new Congress convenes. Jordan will inherit a historically small Republican conference in the House following steep losses in the midterm elections. But attention now turns to Democrats, where some members have voiced hope for a new generation of leadership, despite current House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressing confidence that he will go on to become the next House speaker. In the Senate, incoming Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is facing opposition from many progressives demanding change. "I personally have known Chuck Schumer for over 30 years, and I like Chuck. Nobody who works harder than Chuck Schumer," Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, said in a news conference. "But in my view, the time is now for change, and I will not be supporting Chuck." Schumer responded to questions on his leadership. "I'm confident I will be elected," he said to reporters. "We have great unity in our caucus, and I will be proud to lead it as our majority leader." House Democrats are expected to hold their party elections next week, while Senate Democrats will make their leadership pick in early December. The elections signal the potential policy priorities and directions in which each party is headed when the new Congress takes over, including possibly impeaching Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. On Monday, House Republicans successfully blocked an impeachment resolution against Hegseth. While the current vote to impeach Hegseth may be dead for now, many Democrats have signaled plans to try again when they take control of Congress in January. If Democrats pursue impeachment, they will need a majority vote in the House to proceed. The process would then move to the Senate for a trial, requiring a two-thirds majority vote in the chamber to convict. Watch more party leadership elections on Capitol Hill: Make WLWT a preferred source on Google Add Preferred Source Share Infinite Scroll Enabled Top Picks Stacy Keach, star of stage and 'Mike Hammer' series, dies at 85 Video shows small plane clipping pickup truck while landing on busy Florida road Ole Miss student apologizes after video showing women making racist gestures sparks backlash Democrats will now control more states. Could that mean an effective end to the Electoral College?