The House has yet to be called, but we wanted to take a moment to explore who could lead each of the campaign committees next cycle. This will be a huge job, especially on the Republican side. The president’s party historically loses seats in their first midterm election.
NRCC: Rep. Richard Hudson, the NRCC chair, hasn’t yet signaled what he plans to do. Sources close to the North Carolina Republican said he’s waiting until the House results are settled. Hudson will need to make a formal decision fairly soon, with GOP leadership elections scheduled for next Wednesday.
“With votes still being counted, Chairman Hudson is focused on doing his job and finishing the cycle strong,” NRCC spokesperson Jack Pandol said in a statement. “He will make his intentions known soon.”
Most senior GOP sources expect Hudson to stay on. And it’s hard to imagine Hudson would face a credible challenge. Republicans are feeling confident they’ll keep the House, albeit by a slim margin, which would be a big win considering how the entire 118th Congress went.
If Hudson doesn’t run for NRCC chair, GOP Reps. Rudy Yakym (Ind.) and Kat Cammack (Fla.) are expected to jump into the race. Rep.-elect Brian Jack, a former political advisor to President-elect Donald Trump and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, could also be in the mix.
DCCC: Unlike House Republicans, the DCCC job is appointed by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. But those conversations are quiet right now, given the House has yet to be called.
DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene was seen by members as a good choice to stay on, at least before Tuesday. But the next steps are unclear as votes are still being counted in California and some other states.
Some House Democrats are now pushing for Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) to chair the party’s campaign arm. She isn’t angling for the job or seeking it out, we’re told. Of course, this is Jeffries’ call.
Senate side: As of right now, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is the only Democrat who has expressed interest in leading the DSCC, while Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is so far the lone contender for the NRSC post.
