US House Speaker Mike Johnson to step down as Republican leader after midterm defeat

Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, will step down as leader of the Republicans in the House after his party lost control of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections.

Johnson told his staff of the decision on Wednesday, a day after the Democrats won majorities in both the House and the Senate. His spokesperson confirmed the news to the AFP news agency.

Johnson is not leaving Congress straight away. He won re-election to his seat in Louisiana and will remain Speaker until the new Congress begins in January.

Two senior conservatives and Trump allies, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan, are expected to compete to lead the Republicans, now in opposition. The party is due to vote on its new leader next week. President Donald Trump praised Johnson and said he would not take sides.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries is widely expected to be elected Speaker in January. He would be the first Black person to hold the post, which is second in line to the presidency after the vice president.