Rep. Elise Stefanik was overwhelmingly elected by Republicans to succeed Rep. Liz Cheney as president of the House GOP Conference, fending off some conservative opponents as the party tries to progress two days after Rep. Liz Cheney was ousted as the party’s Republican No. 3.
Stefanik, who received strong backing from Donald Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, was widely regarded as the frontrunner to replace Cheney, who often chastised her colleagues for criticizing the former Chairman and his simple election statements. Some conservatives, however, were dissatisfied with Stefanik’s alleged “coronation,” and criticised Cheney’s moderate record with the New York Republican vote.
In a Friday morning secret poll, Stefanik comfortably defeated a last-minute challenge by Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, who jumped into the race the day before the substitution vote, 134-46. Certain members of the House Freedom Caucus questioned their conservative credentials, but they also earned backing from members such as Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, another Trump supporter.
“House Republicans have united in our efforts to fight on behalf of the American people to save President Biden and Nancy Pelosi’s radical Socialist Democratic initiative,” Stefanik said in a statement following the vote. “Home Republicans will continue to develop policies to strengthen our economy and put people back to work, reopen our schools, encourage the independence of US oil, protect our borders, strengthen our national security, and preserve our constitution.”
Roy, who was chastised by Trump for challenging Stefanik, accepted the challenges of arriving late but was part of a select group that would take longer to find Cheney’s more conservative replacement than to rush a vote. Some people said they didn’t want to hold a vote for at least a month. McCarthy, on the other hand, arranged this two days after Cheney was voted out of the meeting by acclamation.
Stefanik, who will be in charge of distributing the House Republicans’ messages, became a staunch supporter of the former President during his impeachment hearings in 2019 and freely debated concerns surrounding the 2020 presidential elections despite the lack of proof of systemic fraud. She promised to support leaders and candidates who represent the “American dream and our Conservative values.”
Her personal experience of turning a blue district in 2014, as well as her ongoing efforts to elect more Republican women, were used to help Republicans secure the types of districts needed for House re-election in 2022.
Republicans hope that by electing a new member of the leadership, they will be able to resolve months of internal squabbles. Nonetheless, some lawmakers, especially in the Senate, we’re worried that the party’s continued emphasis on tension and a re-run of the 2020 elections could jeopardize its chances of regaining majority support next year.
Despite some conservative concerns about Stefanik, Roy attempted to reassure conservatives that the party would remain unified in its opposition to the Biden administration.
“I will continue to be a spokeswoman for policies that I believe are correct and will benefit the people. But we’ll all be there together, “Before the vote, Roy spoke to reporters. “It’s fairly easy to band together in opposition to the new administration’s radical agenda.”
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