Louisiana took over the House GOP Steering Committee last month, and now two other state delegations are poised to amass a huge amount of gavel power compared to their ranks.
Kentucky and Missouri, here’s looking at you.
House Republicans will begin sorting out contested gavel races this week. The House Republican Steering Committee is expected to deliver even more committee might to two states with relatively small delegations.
Two Kentucky Republicans are considered top contenders in their respective gavel races. Rep. Andy Barr is the member to beat for the Financial Services gavel, and Rep. Brett Guthrie has momentum in the race to take over the House Energy and Commerce Committee. They’d join House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), marking three House gavels held among the five-member Kentucky Republican delegation in the House.
The development would come at an opportune time for Kentucky. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is leaving his longtime role as Senate Republican leader, which lessens the Bluegrass State’s power in that chamber. But McConnell will still chair the Defense subcommittee on the Senate Appropriations Committee, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) will chair the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
And for Missouri, Republican Rep. Ann Wagner is seen as a favorite to bring home the House Foreign Affairs Committee gavel. Fellow Missouri GOP Rep. Jason Smith already holds one of Congress’ most powerful gavels atop the Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) got a waiver to run for another term as House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chair. If Graves prevails over Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), Missouri Republicans could hold three gavels among its six members.
The have-nots: These states could wield more committee power than delegations with far larger membership, particularly Texas and Florida.
Four Texans currently chair House standing committees, but Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul is term-limited. Rules Committee Chair Michael Burgess is retiring, though Texas Rep. Pete Sessions is one of several members vying to replace him. Only two Texans — Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington and Small Business Committee Chair Roger Williams — will hold onto their gavels.
No Floridians are guaranteed to wield a gavel next year out of a delegation with 19 Republican members. Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) is also running for the Foreign Affairs post.
State representation is a dynamic that comes up in gavel races, but the heated contests to win committee chairmanships hinge on other considerations. Personal relationships, leadership alliances and fundraising are all dominant factors.
Of course, none of the gavel races are over yet. Upsets or unexpected twists in any of the open races could shake up which states come out on top. But things are looking sunny for the Heartland.
