House GOP Leaders to Hold Conference Call Day After Election

House Republicans have scheduled a conference call with members for Wednesday, Politico reported.

The purpose of the call, which is being hosted by the National Republican Congressional Committee, is to assess what the situation is following Election Day and to plan for the future.

The GOP is expected to lose seats in the House to the Democrats but maintain their majority.
Republicans are scheduled to hold an internal party election once the House comes back into session next week.

Although no one has yet announced a challenge to any sitting GOP leader, Roll Call reported there is speculation Speaker Paul Ryan might face difficulties in retaining his position due to his lukewarm support of GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Although all GOP leadership positions need a majority of votes in the internal Republican elections, the speaker faces the additional hurdle of a House floor vote in January that requires 218 representatives in support.

Ryan's candidacy is seen by many as a potential showdown between establishment Republicans and conservatives looking to weaken the speaker and win changes to House rules, The Huffington Post reported.

Although conservatives do not believe they have enough votes to necessarily oust him from the position, they say they have leverage because denying him re-election as speaker on the first ballot would harm his political future and mean he would not have a chance to become president.

• Speaker Paul Ryan: 100 Percent Certain to Seek Staying in Role
• Freedom Caucus Chairman Won't Say Whether Ryan Should Remain House Speaker