Five House Republicans are informally vying to become chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus on Capitol Hill, as Chairman Mark Walker's two-year term ends with November's midterm elections.
They are, according to a Saturday report in The Hill:
- Rep. Vicky Hartzler of Missouri, who is in her fourth term.
- Rep. Roger Williams, Texas, in his third term.
- Rep. Barry Loudermilk, Georgia, in his second term.
- Rep. Jim Banks, Indiana, in his first term.
- Rep. Mike Johnson, Louisiana, another freshman representative.
None has officially announced bids to succeed Walker, who has represented North Carolina for two terms, The Hill reports.
The 160-member caucus will vote on a leader after the midterms.
"Right at this moment, it's a wide-open race," said caucus member Rep. Bradley Byrne, whom Alabama voters first elected to Congress in 2012.
Heading the committee has provided a springboard to other political heights, according to The Hill.
Previous chairmen include Vice President Mike Pence; House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana; Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling, who heads the powerful House Financial Services Committee; and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, who heads the conservative House Freedom Caucus.
Texas Rep. Bill Flores, who preceded Walker as chairman, told The Hill that the position held even more sway now that Republican Donald Trump is in the White House.
The chairmanship, he said, is "probably more relevant today than it was earlier now that you've got unified government."
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