Republicans began scrambling to replace Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as House GOP conference chair almost immediately after news broke that President-elect Trump had picked her to serve at the United Nations, with two contenders announcing their bids.
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), the House GOP conference secretary, told The Hill she is running for Stefanik’s old post, as is Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.), according to a source familiar with her bid.
The House GOP will hold internal leadership elections on Wednesday, when the conference will vote on lawmakers to serve in the top posts during the upcoming 119th Congress.
Republicans are poised to retain their control of the lower chamber, but by a small margin. The House remained uncalled as of Monday morning, but Republicans have secured 216 seats, and Democrats were trailing at 209. A total of 10 races have not yet been called.
It’s theoretically possible Democrats could win the House majority, but they’d need to win nine of the 10 races left to call, including a number of battles where their candidates are running behind.
The role of conference chair is the No. 4 post in the House GOP majority. Stefanik was elevated to the job in May 2021 after the group voted to oust former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) from the position for her opposition to the idea that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump.
Stefanik’s move to the Trump administration does not come as a surprise. Before Election Day, a source familiar with the matter told The Hill that they heard directly from Stefanik that she wanted to serve in a potential Trump administration.
More Republicans could enter the race in the lead-up to Wednesday’s vote, including Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah), the vice chair of the GOP conference, and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.).
Some, however, have already taken themselves out of the running. Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.) told The Hill that she will not seek the position, and Rep. Ashley Hinson (Iowa) also said she will not vie for the role.
“I’m humbled that my colleagues would consider me for this important post but I am not running for a leadership position. My focus is on serving Iowa’s Second Congressional District and working to ensure we carry out President Trump’s agenda,” Hinson said in a statement.
McClain has served in the House since 2021, ascending to the role of conference secretary in 2023. She serves on the Oversight, Budget, Armed Services and Education and Workforce Committees.
Cammack also arrived on Capitol Hill in 2021. She sits on the Agriculture and Energy and Commerce Committees, in addition to the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.
House Republicans will elect conference chair by a simple majority on a secret ballot.
Other top House Republicans are seeking reelection to their posts, as well, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Richard Hudson (R-N.C.).
To stay Speaker, Johnson will not only have to win his party’s nomination, but get near-unanimous support from House Republicans in a floor vote on Jan. 3, since Democrats will vote for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) to be Speaker.
Only one other lower-ranked leadership position has multiple candidates vying for the spot: Chair of the Republican Policy Committee. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Ala.) is seeking another term in the post. But he is facing a challenge from Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), the outgoing chair of the Republican Study Committee, the largest conservative caucus in the House.
