If Republicans lose House, it might be Jim Jordan vs Steve Scalise for new minority leader.

House Republicans are coming to terms with the fact they could lose their majority next week and be launched into a nasty leadership race.

Speaker Mike Johnson recently signaled he could stay on as GOP leader in the minority. But interviews with three dozen GOP lawmakers and senior Republican aides reveal most are skeptical Johnson runs in that scenario. They’re keeping a close eye on two potential alternatives: Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise.

The two men are being careful not to acknowledge any jockeying in the final lead-up to the midterms, but many Republicans expect the contest to explode into plain view after Tuesday. Candidates only have until Nov. 6 to declare their intentions to run in the Nov. 10 GOP leader elections.

Scalise, after spending nearly eight years as the No. 2 House Republican, has raised scads of money and built back-slapping relationships with a broad cross-section of members.

But he is facing a squeeze if Dems win the majority: Rep. Tom Emmer intends to run for the party whip regardless of the outcome, which is the No. 2 spot in the minority. If Johnson were to try to stay on in that scenario, Scalise would be forced into a contested race to either move up or keep his rung on the GOP power ladder.

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