Jim Jordan wins House GOP minority leader race

House Republicans elected Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as their new leader Tuesday, handing the reins of the battered GOP conference to one of its most prominent conservative firebrands. Why it matters: Jordan's victory marks a major shake-up in House Republican leadership, elevating a founding member of the hardline Freedom Caucus who campaigned as an alternative to the leaders who presided over the GOP's crushing midterm defeat . Jordan bested Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), who had served as the No. 2 House Republican since 2014, in the conference-wide secret ballot for minority leader. His victory signals an appetite among House Republicans for a more confrontational approach as they prepare to enter the minority. State of play: Jordan and Scalise entered Tuesday's election locked in a tight race, with both camps expressing confidence in their chances of winning. Jordan drew public support from some of the conference's most conservative members, who argued Republicans needed a change in direction after their devastating midterm losses. Scalise leaned on his longstanding relationships across the conference and his decade-plus of experience in leadership. The big picture: Jordan's ascent represents a remarkable turnaround for a conservative agitator who spent much of his career challenging the Republican establishment before becoming one of President Trump's most vocal allies. He'll be tasked with uniting a fractured Republican conference and leading the party's efforts to reclaim the House majority in 2028.