After intense speculation, House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) has announced she will not make a bid for House Majority Whip if Republicans retake control of the lower chamber this year.
Stefanik's decision puts months of speculation to rest regarding if the New Yorker would seek a second term in her current position or attempt to ascend to the No. 3 slot in Congress. For months, the congresswoman has maintained that her sole focus is on helping Republicans win back a majority but on Tuesday she finally broke her silence on the issue.
“For the next 56 days, I'm laser-focused on working to ensure we earn a historic Republican Majority. I am proud to have unified the entire Republican Conference around our country in crisis message and shattered fundraising records as House GOP Conference Chair raising over $10M for candidates and committees this cycle. With the broad support of NY21 and my House GOP colleagues, I intend to run for Conference Chair in the next Congress,” Stefanik said in a statement on Tuesday.
If Republicans do win back the House and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) becomes speaker and Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) moves up to the position of majority leader, the No. 3 position of House majority whip is open for the taking.
Stefanik's announcement comes weeks after Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) announced his plans to run for majority whip if Republicans win back the House of Representatives this fall. (Related: Republican Congressman Announces Campaign for Whip if GOP Retakes the House)
“Chairman Emmer is focused on winning in November. He's asked his colleagues for the opportunity to make an argument for Majority Whip once Republicans retake the House and fire Nancy Pelosi,” NRCC Communications Director Michael McAdams said in a statement at the time.
However, while Rep. Emmer opted to announce his candidacy for the position early other representatives are likely still being seriously considered to take on the role. Republican Study Committee Chair Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) is also considered a viable contender for whip or another leadership position.
Stefanik's choice to run for another term as House GOP Conference chair came shortly after news was released that Rep. Byron Donalds (R- Fla.) is planning to announce his own bid for the role.
The Florida Republican confirmed to The Hill he plans to make a formal announcement on Thursday.
“If you're going to ask Republicans who's the best messenger on our conference, I think I'm one of the best there,” Donalds said. “As a conservative who has worked on policy at the state level, now here, I think I have the necessary tools to help our conference in the next evolution after the November elections.”
It's not clear if some Republicans have already begun to quietly rally behind Donalds' bid for whip, however some Republicans who reportedly expressed interest in the role have already bowed out and expressed support for Stefanik's next term as chair.
Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), a first-term lawmaker who was reportedly vying for the role if Stefanik opted to run for whip tweeted a message of support for the New York representative on Tuesdayfollow her announcement.
Stefanik first took over the position, tasked with leading the House Republican message, in May 2021 after the conference ousted Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) from the position.
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How about MTG??
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