According to reports, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy are backing Rep. Elise Stefanik to replace Liz Cheney’s role as House GOP Conference Chair. Amid Cheney’s repeated comments disparaging former President Trump and refusal to focus on uniting the party to win back the House reports began circulating that the party is preparing to vote Cheney out of her position as early as next week.
Punchbowl News first reported that Scalise has backed New York Rep. Stefanik to fill the role and that McCarthy is working to ensure there are no other challengers.
Fox News reports:
House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., spokesperson Lauren Fine told Fox News Wednesday that “House Republicans need to be solely focused on taking back the House in 2022… and Elise Stefanik is strongly committed to doing that, which is why Whip Scalise has pledged to support her for Conference Chair.”
Trump also supports Stefanik to replace Cheney as House GOP conference chair, sources close to the former president tell Fox News.
“Liz will have more to say in the coming days. This moment is about much more than a House leadership fight,” Cheney spokesperson Jeremy Adler told Fox News Wedneday. Politico reported that Cheney has not been making calls to whip support for a potential vote, as she did the last time her leadership spot was threatened.
Despite McCarthy supporting Cheney to remain in her role three months ago when it came to a vote, it seems the friction has become too great and her “unproductive” work ethic has caused concern she can not adequately fulfill her duties as Republican Conference Chair.
“There’s no concern about how she voted on impeachment, that decision has been made. I have heard from members concerned about her ability to carry out the job as conference chair to carry out the message,” McCarthy said on “Fox & Friends” Tuesday. “We all need to be working as one if we’re able to win the majority. Remember, majorities are not given. They are earned. And that’s about the message about going forward, combating Joe Biden.”
Will Rep. Stefanik replace Liz Cheney? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
