Key facts
- Jason Smith, Republican of Missouri, chairs the House Ways and Means Committee.
- Smith said the internal GOP caucus vote to replace Speaker Mike Johnson should be shelved.
- Smith said the party must first understand how and why it lost the trust of the American people.
- The caucus vote to pick a new leader was scheduled for Tuesday.
House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, a Missouri Republican, is urging his Republican colleagues to delay choosing a new leader as the party comes to terms with losing the House majority in the 2026 midterm elections.
Smith said an internal GOP caucus vote scheduled for Tuesday to replace Speaker Mike Johnson should be shelved until the party can better understand how and why it lost the trust of the American people.
The report did not state the date of the midterm elections or the date on which Smith made his call.