DORAL, Fla. — House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain is trying to redefine the No. 3 leadership role into a press-friendly position.
McClain, who was elected conference chair last year to succeed Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), is making herself frequently available to reporters. McClain also said she’s working on a strategy to highlight members outside of elected leadership.
“I want to put them out front,” McClain told us. “I want to make sure we have a unified message and we’re all singing from the same hymnal.”
McClain’s efforts are in hopes of not just continuing but expanding member engagement that began under Stefanik, especially with freshmen.
McClain’s relationship with the press was on display here as she held unscheduled on-the-record gaggles with reporters during the GOP retreat.
The third-term lawmakers also did the majority of her interviews jointly with various freshmen. In our brief interview, McClain brought in Reps. Sheri Biggs (R-S.C.) and Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.).
Harrigan talked about how McClain is helping get a united message out by allowing new members to share the GOP’s positions on the national stage and back in their districts.
“She’s off to a great start in providing those opportunities in a different way than what’s been provided before in Congress,” Harrigan said.
But even back in Washington, McClain has been working to boost the profile of new members or elevate returning members with key bills prioritized in the GOP agenda. She’s staffed up too by hiring someone to help members with booking TV appearances.
McClain has joined on to op-eds and statements from members to show her support for issues important in her colleagues’ districts. She did a joint interview with Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) about the Laken Riley Act and co-authored an op-ed with him on the topic.
McClain also issued a joint statement about the Los Angeles wildfires and forestry preservation with Natural Resources Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.).
Collins said when it comes to member support, McClain is “there and in the fight.”
The GOP conference chair also held an inauguration media roundtable with two dozen outlets that was attended by roughly 100 members.
Beyond making the conference chair role a press-facing position, McClain is also focusing on building upon the inroads the GOP has made with minority voters, especially Hispanics.
McClain hired a Hispanic press secretary fluent in Spanish and is hoping to expand Republicans’ presence in Spanish media. Her team made sure to invite Spanish media outlets to the GOP retreat and to the inauguration media row earlier this month.
