House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told staff Wednesday morning that he will not seek to become House minority leader in the next Congress, sources familiar with the matter told the Washington Examiner.

Johnson’s decision comes after steep Republican losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections, where Democrats swept several House and Senate races to gain control of both chambers. Johnson’s bowing out of the race clears the way for Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) to throw their hats into the ring.

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