Mike Johnson will step aside as top House Republican next Congress

After Tuesday's bruising defeat for Republicans, House Speaker Mike Johnson will not stay on as minority leader come January.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5616x3744+0+0/resize/5616x3744!/quality/85/format/webp/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc3%2Fff%2F33c85d5b400284e3f7b3c31f3ecb%2Fap26305774437048.jpg' alt='House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks with reporters alongside President Trump on Nov. 1, 2026, at Dubuque Regional Airport in Dubuque, Iowa.'/><p>After Tuesday's bruising defeat for Republicans, House Speaker Mike Johnson will not stay on as minority leader come January.</p><p>(Image credit: Jacquelyn Martin)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=g-s1-151854' />