Jockeying begins for Stefanik’s open House GOP leadership position
Several lawmakers are launching bids for the No. 4 position in House GOP leadership — seemingly the only wide open race after Donald Trump tapped Rep. Elise Stefanik for UN ambassador. Reps. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) and Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) are officially running for conference chair, according to McClain and people with direct knowledge of Cammack’s and Houchin's plans. McClain is presently serving in House Republican leadership as the conference secretary. Cammack has worked as recruitment chair of the House GOP campaign arm and unsuccessfully ran to lead the Republican Study Committee two years ago. Houchin, a first-term member who usually represents the freshmen class in weekly leadership meetings, formally announced her bid Monday in a letter to colleagues. "As your Conference Chair I will make sure the message of the Republican Conference is conservative and clear. We will spend time developing the most effective message by talking with members and constituents, and by utilizing polling and focus groups," she wrote in the letter, obtained by POLITICO. Other Republican candidates are believed to be weighing bids as well, including Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah), who was making calls to other members about a potential bid on Monday, a person with direct knowledge of the calls told POLITICO. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who challenged Stefanik for the position last term, is not running this time, according to a person with direct knowledge of his decision. Candidates will only have two days to campaign, since the House GOP’s internal leadership votes are set for Wednesday afternoon. The House GOP conference chair leads the party’s messaging, a critical position as Republicans prepare to try to pass Donald Trump’s agenda in what increasingly looks like an entirely GOP-controlled Congress. The House majority remains uncalled, but Democrats’ path to victory has gotten slimmer. Regardless, the majority will remain narrow. Stefanik ascended to the role after the party’s then-leadership under former Speaker Kevin McCarthy mobilized to remove then-Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) from the perch over her frequent and public criticism of Trump after Jan. 6. Adam Wren contributed to this report.
Several lawmakers are launching bids for the No. 4 position in House GOP leadership — seemingly the only wide open race after Donald Trump tapped Rep. Elise Stefanik for UN ambassador.
Reps. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) and Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) are officially running for conference chair, according to McClain and people with direct knowledge of Cammack’s and Houchin's plans.
McClain is presently serving in House Republican leadership as the conference secretary. Cammack has worked as recruitment chair of the House GOP campaign arm and unsuccessfully ran to lead the Republican Study Committee two years ago.
Houchin, a first-term member who usually represents the freshmen class in weekly leadership meetings, formally announced her bid Monday in a letter to colleagues. "As your Conference Chair I will make sure the message of the Republican Conference is conservative and clear. We will spend time developing the most effective message by talking with members and constituents, and by utilizing polling and focus groups," she wrote in the letter, obtained by POLITICO.
Other Republican candidates are believed to be weighing bids as well, including Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah), who was making calls to other members about a potential bid on Monday, a person with direct knowledge of the calls told POLITICO. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who challenged Stefanik for the position last term, is not running this time, according to a person with direct knowledge of his decision.
Candidates will only have two days to campaign, since the House GOP’s internal leadership votes are set for Wednesday afternoon.
The House GOP conference chair leads the party’s messaging, a critical position as Republicans prepare to try to pass Donald Trump’s agenda in what increasingly looks like an entirely GOP-controlled Congress. The House majority remains uncalled, but Democrats’ path to victory has gotten slimmer. Regardless, the majority will remain narrow.
Stefanik ascended to the role after the party’s then-leadership under former Speaker Kevin McCarthy mobilized to remove then-Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) from the perch over her frequent and public criticism of Trump after Jan. 6.
Adam Wren contributed to this report.
