SACHA PFEIFFER, HOST:
Republicans in Congress are working to put the pieces back together again after last week's losses in the midterm elections. Today, they took an important first step by electing new leaders in the House and Senate ahead of Democrats assuming the majority. Here is Ohio's Jim Jordan, who was elected to serve as a minority leader in the House.
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JIM JORDAN: Over the next two years, House Republicans will fight for American families. When Democrats offer more government, we'll offer more freedom, and we will bring that fight in committee, on the floor and on the stump, every single day.
PFEIFFER: NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales is on Capitol Hill covering this and joins me now. Hi, Claudia.
CLAUDIA GRISALES, BYLINE: Hey, Sacha.
PFEIFFER: Let's start with the House with Jim Jordan as minority leader. Tell us a little miniature biography of him.
GRISALES: Yes, he's a former college wrestling coach, and he's brought kind of a hard-charging style to these fights with Democrats that he's had. And that's what a lot of Republicans said they were looking for in the fallout after the midterm election losses. He also cofounded the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus and served as the top Republican on the House Oversight Committee when they were in the minority.
Jordan was most recently chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. That's where he helped lead a two-year impeachment probe into former President Biden. Ultimately, Republicans did not pursue impeachment, but he also investigated former Special Counsel Jack Smith and Democratic officials who had challenged President Trump. And these committees he served on - House oversight and judiciary - they're poised to play a central role in the new Congress as Democrats plan for a long list of investigations into President Trump and his administration.
PFEIFFER: Who did Jordan beat out for the job?
GRISALES: Well, he defeated Louisiana's Steve Scalise. He currently serves as the No. 2 House Republican behind Johnson. He did this in a vote of 106 to 73.
PFEIFFER: And, Claudia, a bigger picture question - what do you think Jordan's win signals about the direction House Republicans will go in the minority?
GRISALES: Well, they wanted a fresh face at the top. And Jordan in his pitch to his colleagues said that for too long, the conferences operated without a, quote, "clear plan to survive the next hour or day in front of us" - so clearly, a hit on the current leadership team that included Scalise. And he said that kind of approach won't work with emboldened Democrats. And they're coming in with a significant margin in the House, and that's going to leave Republicans with little leverage to shift the floor agenda.
PFEIFFER: That's the House. If we move to the Senate, what did Republicans decide there?
GRISALES: Well, that was a less of a surprise. Senate Majority Leader John Thune will become minority leader, as (ph) he's held the top job since last year after succeeding his predecessor, Mitch McConnell. He has sometimes had a tense relationship with President Trump, who was frustrated with Thune for failing to push through his long-sought voting restriction bill and ending the filibuster. But Thune has a lot of support inside the conference, and he did not even have a challenger.
PFEIFFER: Claudia, what about the Democrats? What are some of the key things you think we should know about their leadership races?
GRISALES: Well, they have more time to reflect on their decision. House Democrats will vote next week. In that case, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is poised to become the first Black speaker in history.
PFEIFFER: And could things play out as easily for Senate Democrats?
GRISALES: Well, maybe not. Today, Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders - he caucuses with Democrats. He became one of the more high-profile senators to call for new leadership at the top, but it's unclear who could challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who seemed to be on an easy track to become majority leader, especially as Senate Democrats blew past expectations with their wins, and they're on track to have a comfortable majority.
PFEIFFER: That is NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales. Thank you.
GRISALES: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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