House Republicans

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, accompanied by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Benton, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in Washington.

 Associated Press Photo by Jose Luis Magana

Louisiana’s U.S. Reps. Mike Johnson and Steve Scalise, the two highest-ranking House Republicans who were both re-elected Tuesday, vowed to continue fighting for conservative causes after in the 2026 midterm elections.

Johnson, the U.S. House Speaker, conceded the GOP’s loss of the U.S. House of Representatives around 10 p.m. Tuesday as he addressed hundreds of supporters at a watch party at the Shreveport Convention Center.

β€œWe faced some real odds here,” Johnson said. β€œWe went on offense early … we made our case in terms of the language of common sense.”

Scalise, who watched results come in with supporters at Drago’s restaurant in Metairie, vowed to fight for the conservative cause despite losing his majority seat.

β€œI don’t know what the makeup of Congress is going to look like, but if there is a Democrat majority I will spend all of my time making sure anyone promoting socialism will have someone fighting against that in Washington D.C.,” Scalise said after being re-elected in District 1.

Mike Johnson acknowledges that Republicans have lost the House

β€” Aaron Rupar ()

Democrat voters turned out in huge numbers in this year’s midterms, helping House Democrats add several seats to their ranks as of 10 p.m. Tuesday. It appeared likely that Democrats would take control of both chambers of Congress, with sweeping wins across the country even in traditionally red strongholds.

The turnout was driven, in part, by rising gas and grocery prices tied to the Iran war and growing dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump.

For the last few years, Johnson and Scalise’s high-ranking status in the GOP has helped Louisiana punch above its political weight. But now, both Johnson and Scalise are expected to lose their jobs running the lower chamber after the change in majority.

Under House rules, GOP leadership doesn’t automatically move one rung down once the group becomes the minority party. New leaders will be elected through a secret ballot when the new Congress convenes in January.

Johnson thanked Trump and Vice President JD Vance and vowed to keep fighting for Republicans while sitting in Congress.

β€œI said from Day 1 that I was going to leave everything on the field in this endeavor, and I’m proud to say that’s exactly what we did,” he said.

Email Julia Guilbeau at jguilbeau@theadvocate.com.

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