Jordan defeated Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana in a secret-ballot vote of the Republican conference, 106-73, according to a person familiar with the tally. The closed-door election on Capitol Hill sets the direction for a party that will relinquish control of the chamber in January and must now define its opposition strategy against a Democratic majority and President-elect.

Jordan, the current chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, is known for his aggressive style and has been a leading voice of the party’s right flank. He is not expected to retain his Judiciary gavel when the new Congress convenes, as Republicans will no longer hold committee majorities.

Scalise, the current majority leader, has served in Republican leadership for years. The two lawmakers previously competed for the speakership in 2023 after the ouster of Kevin McCarthy, but neither secured enough support, and the gavel ultimately went to Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana. Johnson will remain speaker until the new Congress is sworn in in January.

The leadership vote comes as Republicans reckon with Democratic victories in the midterms that flipped control of the House. Jordan’s win suggests the conference is betting on a combative approach to counter the incoming Democratic majority, rather than a more establishment-oriented strategy.

For local communities, the choice of minority leader will shape how federal legislation, oversight and spending fights unfold over the next two years. Jordan has been a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump and a frequent critic of the Biden administration, and his elevation signals that House Republicans will likely use their minority status to launch investigations and push hard-line messaging.

The vote was first reported by Scripps News.