The Lone Woman in House GOP Leadership Could Face Challenge

Paul Ryan's retirement could have a deleterious ripple effect on an endangered Republican species in the House - a woman in power, Politico reports.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers (CMR) has not escaped the scrutiny on every member of the leadership team just because she's a woman. In fact, CMR, R-Wash., has work to do to first get reelected before fighting back any potential challenge that might come from those gunning for her post as GOP Conference chair.

CMR, already part of a rare breed in the House - just 9 percent of Republicans are female - is quite aware of the overtures and isn't happy about it.

"Posturing about decisions we'll make after the election is naive, divisive, and it's distracting from the Conference's shared goals of finishing our work in the House and keeping this majority," McMorris Rodgers said in a statement, noting separately of a small group of Republicans "hoping that I'll retire."

"Those that are hoping that I'm going to retire or spreading that rumor hoping that I'll retire are going to be really disappointed because, yes, I am running for reelection," McMorris Rodgers said.

Rep. Mark Walker, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, is mulling a run at CMR's post, Politico reports.

But McMorris Rodgers has also been mentioned as a potential successor to Ryan if the House loses badly in November and becomes the minority party.

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