Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the sole female seeking a top 3 post, was urged to drop out.
The GOP conference is expected to meet twice Tuesday to work out the battle for leadership posts set off by John Boehner's abrupt exit. Here's a quick look at the jostling:
Speaker - likely locked up
Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California
Promising to NOT be Boehner
"If elected speaker, I promise you that we will have the courage to lead the fight for our conservative principles and make our case to the American people," wrote McCarthy. "But we will also have the wisdom to listen to our constituents and each other so that we always move forward together."
Majority Leader - the most competitive race
Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana v. Rep. Tom Price of Georgia (Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington
dropped out)
Duking it out for No. 2
As he launched a bid for House majority leader, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) had his staff huddle with more than 100 D.C. lobbyists to tout his fundraising successes. Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) has rolled out a series of high-profile endorsements as he tries to knock off his fellow Southerner for the No. 2 job. [...]
Price, who serves as the Budget Committee chairman, has locked up the support of Financial Services Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) as well as the House’s most well-respected Republican, Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). [...] Price is struggling to bring defense hawks into his camp because he wouldn’t increase core defense spending in his budget.
Scalise, currently the House GOP whip, has attracted the support of defense-minded lawmakers like Ohio Rep. Mike Turner, who opposed Scalise in his last leadership election. Scalise has not rolled out a list of supporters — and furthermore, hasn’t even officially announced his candidacy. Some have questioned whether he’ll remain as majority whip and forgo a race for majority leader.
McMorris Rodgers, btw, was the ooonly woman running for a top three leadership post and she was "
privately urged" to drop out, even though she
edged out Price for conference chair in 2012. She will keep her No. 4 post.
Majority Whip
Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina v. Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas
Insiders believe Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) — currently Scalise’s deputy — will win a whip race. Rep. Dennis Ross (R-Fla.) is running against McHenry. One unknown is Texas Rep. Pete Sessions.
Not anymore:
Texas Rep. Pete Sessions is running for House majority whip. The 18-year veteran of Washington — who serves as chairman of the House Rules Committee — says his time atop the National Republican Congressional Committee proves he can be a successful leader for the Republican Party.
