Washington : Mike Johnson, who is a Republican representative from Louisiana, will continue holding the post of Speaker of the US House of Representatives till November 4, 2026. Nevertheless, the results of the midterm elections in the US that will take place on November 3, 2026, can result in the change of the House leadership in January 2027, and see the Democrat Hakeem Jeffries elected as the next Speaker of the House.
The question of the future Speaker of the House has become relevant amid the ongoing elections. In the ongoing elections, the Democrats are expected to win the control of the House of Representatives, making Republicans lose the majority in the House. Nevertheless, the Associated Press has reported that the makeup of the House is still unclear since the votes have to be counted.
In case of the majority of the Democrats in the House of Representatives, Jeffries can be selected as the Speaker of the House. He should have the backing of the future members of the House to become the Speaker.
Who Is the Current Speaker of the US House?
Mike Johnson is the 56th Speaker of the US House of Representatives. He is a representative for the 4th Congressional District of Louisiana and is a member of the Republican Party.
Johnson has been elected to the US House of Representatives for the first time in 2016. Before being elected to the position of Speaker, he has worked on various committees of the US Congress like House Judiciary Committee and assumed various leadership positions in the Republican Party.
He has been first elected as the Speaker of the House on October 25, 2023, replacing Kevin McCarthy who was previously the Speaker. He has been re-elected as Speaker on January 3, 2025, during the start of the 119th Congress.
As a Speaker, he directs the proceedings of the House of Representatives and manages various administrative affairs of the House.
Could Hakeem Jeffries Become the Next House Speaker?
Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Leader in the House, will be eligible to replace Johnson as Speaker in 2026, following the mid-term elections.
Hakeem Jeffries is a member of Congress representing the 8th Congressional District of New York State and he was elected as the Democratic Leader in the House in January 2023. He is the most experienced Democrat in the US House of Representatives.
If the Democrats manage to secure the majority and elect him as their candidate in the House, then Jeffries will be elected as Speaker during the 120th Congress in January 2027.
The election night projections indicated that the Democrats would manage to regain control of the House of Representatives. However, the exact composition of the House is still unknown since the voting process has not yet been completed according to Associated Press. This implies that Hakeem Jeffries cannot be described as the Speaker-elect because the Speaker is elected by the members of the House.
What Are the Responsibilities of the US House Speaker?
Among the tasks performed by the Speaker include:
When Will the Next US House Speaker Be Elected?
The current 119th Congress started on January 3, 2025, and is expected to end on January 3, 2027. Mike Johnson is the Speaker of the 119th Congress at the moment. The 120th Congress will begin on January 3, 2027.
Members of the incoming Congress will choose the Speaker after the start of the session. The result of the 2026 midterm elections will show which party is going to be in the majority and will therefore have an opportunity to nominate its nominee for the position.
It should be noted that the Speaker is chosen by the entire membership of the House of Representatives and not by the voters during the general election. Prior to the election of the Speaker by the incoming Congress, Mike Johnson is the incumbent office holder.
