Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) is planning to run for House GOP conference chair, putting up a roadblock to Rep. Elise Stefanik's (R-NY) ambition to take the position.
House Republicans vote to make Elise Stefanik conference chair replacing Liz Cheney
House Republicans voted on Friday to elevate Rep. Elise Stefanik to the No. 3 leadership position of conference chair after ousting Rep. Liz Cheney from the role because she repeatedly called out former President Donald Trump’s “Big Lie” that the 2020 election was stolen.
Stefanik, a high-profile Trump defender, faced a conservative challenger GOP Rep. Chip Roy but his candidacy was viewed as a long-shot, and the New York congresswoman had the backing of House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, Minority Whip Steve Scalise and Trump. The final result was 134 votes for Stefanik and 46 for Roy, according to multiple sources in the room.
Stefanik fends off challenge, replaces Cheney in GOP leadership
Elise Stefanik s rise helps prove that the contemporary GOP is a post-policy party that prioritizes fealty to Donald Trump above all other considerations.
Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) speaks to members of the media as she leaves a House Republican Caucus candidates forum for the running of GOP conference chair on Capitol Hill, May 13, 2021.Evelyn Hockstein / Reuters
May 14, 2021, 2:07 PM UTC
BySteve Benen
After firing Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) as House Republican Conference chair on Wednesday, GOP lawmakers needed to pick a new #3 for their leadership team in the chamber. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) was the obvious frontrunner, having received endorsements from, among others, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Donald Trump.
House Republicans voted on Friday to elevate Rep. Elise Stefanik to the No. 3 leadership position of conference chair after ousting Rep. Liz Cheney from the role because she repeatedly called out former President Donald Trump's "Big Lie" that the 2020 election was stolen.