- Lawmakers are returning to Capitol Hill on Monday, and with the sun setting on their majorities, Republicans are aiming to make the most of their lame-duck period.
- House and Senate Republicans will hold leadership elections on Tuesday, while House Democrats will hold theirs the following week, and Senate Democrats will elect their leaders in early December.
- Senate Republicans are scheduled to hold leadership elections Tuesday morning, but at least a handful, led by Sen. Ron Johnson, want to delay them to recalibrate after the party's stunning defeat.
- Johnson's letter, signed by at least five colleagues including Sens. John Kennedy, Mike Lee, Rick Scott, and Dave McCormick, argues that holding leadership elections without robust discussion would be political malpractice.
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is poised to become speaker, with Katherine Clark as majority leader and Pete Aguilar as whip.
- On the House side, Speaker Mike Johnson is stepping aside, leaving Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Rep. Jim Jordan to jockey for minority leader; Rep. August Pfluger is challenging Majority Whip Tom Emmer; and Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain has two opponents.
- Johnson argues there's no reason to rush because the GOP doesn't yet know the size of its conference with Mississippi and Alaska races unresolved, and there's 'a lot of reason for robust discussion and reflection about what went wrong.'
- Senate Democratic leadership elections are slated for early next month, and with Democrats' overperformance, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has appeared to improve his standing despite intense criticism.
Congress returns for a pivotal lame-duck session after Republicans faced significant midterm losses, reshaping the political landscape.
House GOP leadership elections are underway, with Speaker Mike Johnson stepping aside and contenders like Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan vying for minority leader.
Meanwhile, Rep. August Pfluger challenges Tom Emmer for minority whip, while Lisa McClain faces competition from Erin Houchin and Greg Steube.
In the Senate, leadership elections are scheduled, but some members, led by Sen. Ron Johnson, advocate for a delay to reassess after the party's stunning defeat.45
Johnson emphasized the need for “robust discussion” about future leadership, with unresolved races in Mississippi and Alaska complicating the situation.
Senate Democrats, buoyed by their midterm performance, will elect leaders in early December, with Chuck Schumer appearing to strengthen his position despite past criticisms.
As Congress reconvenes, the focus will be on navigating the challenges ahead and redefining party leadership roles.
“House Speaker Mike Johnson steps aside, leaving Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan to jockey for minority leader, while Sen. Ron Johnson leads a push to delay Senate GOP elections, citing unresolved Mississippi and Alaska races. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's standing appears improved after Democrats overperformed expectations.”
CBS News
