Candidates Line Up For Race To Replace Stefanik In House Leadership Role

Republicans are throwing their hats into the ring to replace Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) as the House GOP’s No. 3 leader now that she has been selected by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as his U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

The Republican Conference chair position, the holder of which “heads organization of all Republican Party members in the House,” has been held by Stefanik since she took over from then-Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) in 2021.

Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL), who was just elected to serve a third term in the lower chamber, announced her candidacy on Monday.

“With the mandate the American people gave President Trump and my fellow Republicans on Tuesday, we need to deliver results now more than ever,” Cammack said in a post to X. “We need to be one team, one mission. I’m all in to be our next House Conference Chair and I look forward to executing on the America First agenda we have been sent to Washington for.”

Rep. Lisa McClain, another member fresh off winning a third term, also declared. McClain is already serving in GOP leadership as secretary of the House Republican Conference.

“Pres. Trump & I brought together a unified coalition of voters in Michigan that represents the modern Republican party,” McClain said on X. “I’m running to be Conference Chair because this is the approach we need to retain and grow our Conference. I’m ready for the challenge!”

Multiple reports said Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN), who just won a second term, is competing in the race, too.

In a letter to colleagues, Houchin pledged to ensure House GOP messaging is “conservative and clear” if she is chosen, according to the Indianapolis Star. She also said: “I am committed to working with each of you to support President Trump, hone our message, communicate it effectively, and support all your communication needs.”

Heritage Action Scorecard, which rates members based on “how conservative” they have been in votes and co-sponsorships, gave Cammack 91%, McClain 70%, and Houchin 66% for the 118th congressional session from 2023 to 2024.

Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY), who first won her seat in 2022 after defeating Cheney in the primary, endorsed McClain while noting how she “supported President Trump early and helped to turn a ‘blue’ state red.”

Yet another Trump ally — Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), who lost to Stefanik for the House Republican Conference chair the last time — is reportedly backing Cammack.

A potential fourth contender, Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT), has reportedly been making calls to colleagues about a run.

The Hill’s Emily Brooks also reported on X that Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) is not discounting a campaign of her own, telling the reporter: “I haven’t ruled out running, many people are saying I should. Whoever it is, I believe it’s important that the conference chair supports President Trump from the very beginning.”

GOP leadership elections in the House are expected to take place on Wednesday. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), and Republican Policy Committee Chairman Gary Palmer (R-AL) are seeking another stint in their roles.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is also running to stay put, though whoever gets the gavel will be determined by the entire House, likely in January.

House Democrats are slated to hold their leadership elections next week. Jockeying for top roles is also underway in the Senate, which the GOP won back last week.