Congress
Capitol agenda: House GOP’s old guard is in for a fight
House Republican leadership races after the party’s catastrophic losses are shaping up to be a battle between the old versus new guard.
Party elections are set for Tuesday morning and will test how closely GOP members — angry over Republicans’ deep defeats and eager to chart a different course — tie their existing leadership team to the thrashing.
The ballot appears to be largely set for the House’s top three GOP positions after Speaker Mike Johnson said he would not run for top Republican again. After sending letters to colleagues yesterday, candidates will make their pitches to the rest of the conference before members vote in a secret tally. Friday is the deadline to declare candidacy.
Several members told Mia the race fallout could get ugly between incumbents and challengers. Here’s how the contests are shaking out:
— MINORITY LEADER: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has thrown his hat in the ring against Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan to lead Republicans over the next two years, and the battle is expected to be bitter.
It’s a repeat of a faceoff between the two men in 2023. And Scalise, while seen as the more “steady hand” as one Republican put it, is also the most tied to Johnson.
“We got our asses kicked,” the member said. “And are they going to blame Scalise for that or the president? And are Republicans going to be happy if there are no scalps on the wall? Johnson already did, but does his first mate have to walk the plank too?”
— WHIP: House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, as expected, will try to keep his role, and Republican Study Committee Chair August Pfluger challenged him yesterday. It’s not a surprising move: many knew Pfluger was angling for a leadership perch.
Several House Republicans say Emmer has broad conference support. But Pfluger could try to argue that GOP leadership should have pushed for more in another party-line bill this year.
— CONFERENCE CHAIR: GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain got a surprise challenge Wednesday night from Rep. Erin Houchin for the No. 3 job, focused on messaging.
McClain released a list of 35 members supporting her and her experience yesterday. Houchin’s name, meanwhile, was floated by several Republicans as a potential rising star.
The wild card in the elections? President Donald Trump, whose endorsement could easily sway a race. As of Wednesday, however, Trump said he wouldn’t choose sides in the minority leader fight.
What else we’re watching:
— HOUSE DEM FACTIONS LOOK TO DISARM: After securing a huge majority, House Democrats’ warring factions say they are preparing to collaborate. This time last week, the progressive and moderate wings of the House Democratic Caucus were gearing up to battle for influence in what they thought might be a slim governing majority. But with some estimating the party will win as mean as 260 seats, the prospect of having a 30-vote-minimum margin to pass legislation means no one group will come to the table with an obvious edge that would handcuff the likely incoming speaker, Hakeem Jeffries.
— GOP TRIES TO SALVAGE LAME DUCK — Republicans had a long list of priorities to wrap up in the lame-duck session. But Democrats may not be in the mood to compromise after their midterm election victories. Republicans will have to prioritize what they want to accomplish in their waning days of congressional control once Congress returns next week. Must-pass legislation both parties want to finish includes funding the government to avoid a pre-holiday shutdown and passing the annual defense authorization bill. Also in flux: whether Democrats will vote to enact a permitting deal reached before the election.
Riley Rogerson and Katherine Tully-McManus contributed to this report.