After midterm rout, Republicans pick Jim Jordan as House leader; Hegseth impeachment bid blocked

A week after Democrats won control of both chambers of the US Congress, House Republicans have chosen Ohio Representative Jim Jordan to lead them in the minority, and the House has shut down an attempt by one of their own members to impeach Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Jordan beats Scalise

In a closed-door secret ballot on Tuesday, Jordan defeated current Majority Leader Steve Scalise by 106 votes to 73, ABC News and Scripps News reported. Speaker Mike Johnson had said he would not seek the post. Johnson remains Speaker until the new Congress convenes in January 2027.

Representative Tom Emmer was elected minority whip and Representative Lisa McClain conference chair, according to ABC News. In the Senate, Republicans re-elected John Thune as their leader by acclamation, with John Barrasso staying on as whip. ABC News said Democrats hold a 254-166 edge in the House with 15 races still undecided, and that Republicans lost at least seven Senate seats.

Impeachment resolution sent to committee

Also on Tuesday, the House voted 211-204 to refer Republican Representative Thomas Massie's resolution, containing eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth, to the Judiciary Committee, a move that effectively ends it in the current Congress. Massie, who lost a party primary earlier this year to a Trump-backed challenger, was the only Republican to vote with Democrats against the referral. Seven Republicans and 11 Democrats missed the vote, according to CBS News.

The articles accused Hegseth of abusing his office, including by starting the war with Iran without congressional approval and over strikes on boats in the Caribbean. Hegseth rejected the effort as a political spectacle and said none of the allegations amounted to high crimes or misdemeanours, arguing the operations were lawful and directed by the President. Massie said he was disappointed but not surprised by the outcome.

A crowded lame-duck session

Congress returned on Monday for a five-week lame-duck session. Government funding runs out after 11 December and lawmakers have yet to agree a deal to avoid a shutdown. The annual defence authorisation bill also has to pass before the year ends.

For India, the shape of the new Congress matters for trade, technology and defence cooperation, as well as immigration and visa policy that affects Indian professionals and students. The Iran war, which some Republicans have blamed for their midterm losses, also bears directly on India's energy costs.