If the GOP lose the House, will Dennis Hastert or current Majority Leader John Boehner by Minority Leader?

Answer 1

There is no automatic shift in positions. The Republicans in the House of Representatives will have a vote among themselves to determine this.

The last time the House of Representatives switched parties, from the Democrats to the Republicans in 1995, the incumbent Speaker of the House, Thomas Foley, was defeated for re-election in his home district. Thus, the issue of whether he would be minority leader was resolved without him.

Further, the incumbent Minority Leader, Bob Michel, retired that year, paving the way for the Minority Whip, Newt Gingrich, to become the new Speaker with the GOP takeover. But Gingrich's move to the position was not automatic: the Republicans held an election and promoted him to the post.

If the Democrats take control, it is widely expected that Nancy Pelosi, currently the Minority Leader, will be the next Speaker -- making her the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House. (She is currently the first woman to serve as Minority Leader.) However, this is not guaranteed. There are other Democrats who would like the position, such as Steny Hoyer, currently the Minority Whip, who are likely candidates for the position.

Thus, there is no guarantee as to who will hold what position. Further, with Hastert's current problems with the Sex Scandal related to Republican Representative Mark Foley, it is not at all clear that Hastert will even be re-elected, and if he is re-elected, he might lose is leadership role entirely, regardless of whether the GOP maintains or loses the House.

Answer 2

I suspect that, if the Republicans lose the House, you'll see Hastert (and possibly one or two others) resign their leadership positions or get defeated when they run in the new Congress.

There is some precedent for Hastert taking the Minority Leader position - in the 1940s and '50s, when control swung more between the parties, Sam Rayburn (Dems) and Joseph Martin (GOP) alternated the speakership between them, with whoever's party wasn't in power taking the Minority Leader slot and everyone else in his party's leadership moving down a peg.

Answer 3

It looks bad. It the GOP loses the house, it will be controlled by Democrats and their supporters:
Jong Ill.
Iran.
Syria.
Terrorists.
Ole bin Laden
These people have all worked hard to help the Democrats take over.

I don't think he's done a good strong job, but I think Hastert is the majority leader.

Answer 4

I think the Republicans passed a law that says Pee Wee Herman is the in-term House Spanker until a official time when a Democrat takes over.

Answer 5

You can also thank the Republican party who tried to weasel out of the Foley affair by blaming the Democrats, as Usual! They then got caught with their pants down and had to admit they screwed up! They have known about Foley for years!

The handwriting has been on the wall long before Foley!

No Republican will be the majority leader!

Answer 6

we will win the Senate, the house is close. Democrats have a small lead in most polls. When Democrats take the Senate, they will elect a new majority leader. If Democrats take the house then they elect a majority leader.

Answer 7

Neither is guaranteed the position of Minority leader, the newly elected Republican members will get together in caucus and choose someone. It may be one of them, or someone entirely different.

Answer 8

Nancy Pelosi unless the demoncrats are sick of her and get someone else!

Answer 9

yes. democrats will kill the stupid Republicans in the elections. and all you republicans out there, you can thank Mark Foley for that.