As Parties Prepare To Elect New Leaders, These Members Are Vying For Top Spots In A Republican-Controlled House

Topline

House Republicans will reportedly announce Tuesday their leadership election will take place one week after the midterm as they prepare to restructure the lower chamber following an expected GOP takeover on Nov. 8.

Key Facts

Key Background

Forecasts show it’s all but inevitable Republicans win the five seats they need to reclaim the House majority, meaning Republicans would likely elect McCarthy, who is uncontested in the Speaker’s race, to the top post. But McCarthy needs a strong Republican showing on election day to help him wrangle the Freedom Caucus that derailed his speaker bid in 2015. If Republicans win the House by a slim majority, the bloc will have more negotiating power to force McCarthy to cave to their demands. At the top of the conservative group’s list of priorities is restoring the power to oust the speaker via a “motion to vacate the chair.” In the race for majority whip, Ferguson was the first to begin recruiting backers this summer, Politico reported. He has the support of his would-be predecessor, Scalise, who elevated Ferguson to his current position of chief deputy whip, but Emmer and Banks are thought to be the top two contenders. Democrats are reportedly eyeing a post-Thanksgiving leadership election, but the timing largely depends on whether Pelosi seeks to maintain her leadership position. Delaying a vote could buy her more time to build enough momentum to avoid a takeover from the younger members, some of whom, including Rep. Elissa Slotkin (R-Mich.), have expressed a desire for a new generation of leadership. “We need new blood,” she said in an interview last month on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Tangent

Emmer drew the ire of Trumpworld when Fox News host Tucker Carlson accused him in October of giving an anonymous quote to The Daily Beast that cast his son, Buckley Carlson, in a negative light. The quote used Banks’ decision to hire Buckley Carlson to work for the Republican Study Committee, as evidence that Banks “dies to be liked by the Establishment.” Carlson lashed out at Emmer over the article in an angry phone call, Axios reported, and Donald Trump Jr. also blamed Emmer in a tweet for the quote, which he denied giving.

Surprising Fact

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) was thought to be an early contender for majority whip, but took herself out of the race when she announced in September she would seek re-election as House Republican Conference chair.

Further Reading

House Democrats begin preparing for the post-Pelosi era (The Washington Post)

McCarthy says he’s ‘better prepared’ for Speaker’s gavel than in past (The Hill)

McCarthy unveils House GOP’s midterm agenda in Pennsylvania (The Associated Press)