Speaker Mike Johnson told Republican aides on Wednesday that he would not run to lead the House G.O.P. conference in the minority, according to a person familiar with the comments, after Democrats’ sweeping takeover of Congress.
The decision paves the way for new Republican leadership in the chamber after the party’s drubbing in the midterm elections. It also caps a stunning arc for Mr. Johnson, who ascended to the most powerful position in the House three years ago after the hard-right faction of his party ousted then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
But the move did not surprise many on Capitol Hill, given the party’s staggering losses in races across the country. Leaders who preside over such routs are rarely rewarded with stewardship of the party in the minority.
Mr. Johnson’s decision to step aside could still leave Republicans in the middle of a fierce succession battle. His deputies, Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 2 Republican, and Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the current majority whip, each ran for speaker in 2023. So did Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, a close ally of President Trump.
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