The race to succeed Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as House GOP conference chair is shaping up to be a competitive contest between a field of mostly women candidates.
Stefanik officially withdrew from consideration for the No. 4 slot in leadership Monday after she was tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as his ambassador to the United Nations. Candidates have until noon today to enter the race, with leadership elections scheduled for Wednesday.
Several members moved quickly to throw their hats into the ring. GOP Reps. Kat Cammack (Fla.), Lisa McClain (Mich.) and Erin Houchin (Ind.) have all formally declared they’re running. Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) is also exploring a bid and began making calls Monday.
The GOP conference chair is in charge of party messaging and organizing conference meetings. And with the top three House Republicans currently all white men, there’s some desire inside the GOP to elect another woman to succeed Stefanik.
Cammack got a boost when House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) decided against running and instead threw his support behind Cammack, as we first reported. Donalds challenged Stefanik for conference chair last cycle and got 74 votes. His support for Cammack could help solidify her standing among conservatives.
But we’re told the House Freedom Caucus is still trying to recruit one of its own to run for the position. Cammack is a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee, while McClain, Houchin and Moore all belong to the more center-right Republican Main Street Caucus.
Moore and McClain are both currently in leadership, serving as vice chair and conference secretary, respectively. So if either of them moves up, it will have a cascading effect. Rep. Mark Alford (R-Mo.) has told people he intends to run for the secretary job.
Who they are.
Cammack.
– District profile: R+9
– Terms in Congress: Two
– 2024 fundraising: $2.7 million this cycle between her re-elect and leadership PAC.
– Pitch: Cammack is positioning herself as the conservative pick and promising to help execute an America First agenda. Cammack also led the NRCC’s recruitment efforts this cycle. Here’s Cammack’s letter, which outlines her goals. That includes a task force on Hispanic outreach.
Houchin.
– District profile: R+16
– Terms in Congress: One
– 2024 fundraising: Houchin has three fundraising vehicles. She raised $1.58 million for her own reelection. Houchin also raised $188,231 to her leadership PAC and $478,270 to her victory committee.
– Pitch: Houchin is touting her past experience owning a public relations firm and vowing to ensure that the GOP message is “conservative and clear,” according to a letter announcing her candidacy. The Indiana Republican also promises to incorporate non-traditional media into the party’s communication strategy.
McClain
– District profile: R+18
– Terms in Congress: Two
– 2024 fundraising: Roughly $1.8 million between her reelect and leadership PAC.
– Pitch: McClain is leaning into her Midwest roots and promising to be a team player while working closely with Trump. “I hail from a blue state, one of the most critical battlegrounds for the presidency and our House majority,” McClain said in her letter to colleagues. “I understand what it takes to win tough races.”
Moore
– District profile: R+12
– Terms in Congress: Two
– 2024 fundraising: $2.8 million this cycle between his reelect and leadership PAC.
– Pitch: Moore isn’t officially in the race yet, but his case is likely to center on the fact that he’s already part of the leadership team and is also a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which will play a critical role in next year’s GOP tax package.
