Jim Jordan, the combative chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, beat the current majority leader by 106 votes to 73 in a secret ballot. (EPA Images pic)WASHINGTON: Jim Jordan, a hardline ally of President Donald Trump, was elected leader of the Republicans in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday, defeating fellow conservative Steve Scalise as the party reckons with a crushing midterm election defeat.
Jordan, the combative chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, beat the current majority leader by 106 votes to 73 in a secret ballot, US media reported, putting him in charge of the party's opposition to the incoming Democratic majority.
The Ohio congressman will replace House Speaker Mike Johnson, who announced he was stepping down from leadership after Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress in last week's elections.
