WASHINGTON — A day after Democrats captured the House majority, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told his staff Wednesday morning he will not stay on as Republican leader in the new Congress , according to four sources on the phone call.

His announcement follows massive losses for his party in House races Tuesday.

Johnson’s departure will leave open the position of House minority leader. Republicans are scheduled to hold an internal election to select their candidate for the position Nov. 10.

Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who is the No. 2 GOP leader, a close Johnson ally and a fellow Louisiana Republican, announced his bid for minority leader in a letter to GOP colleagues on Wednesday. He became a national figure after he survived an assassination attempt during the 2017 congressional baseball shooting .

“Last night’s election was far worse than any of us expected.…