With Boehner’s retirement announcement, his position, and the power of Speaker, is now up for grabs. His successor — Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is considered the front-runner — may have just as much difficulty in pacifying conservative Republicans willing to hold important legislation hostage to their priorities.
Some ambitious members already in leadership vying to move up the ladder, but the position of Majority Leader seems to have the greatest horse race in the likely event the current officeholder, McCarthy, succeeds Boehner as Speaker. Thus far, McCarthy appears to have little, if any competition.
Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) and GOP Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) have all been speculated to want to the job and have not been hiding their ambitions. They used the weekend to make calls to colleagues to get commitments of support, and they solidified their whip teams to help make the rounds and nudge undecideds.
Late yesterday, Rep. Tom Price, Chairman of the House Budget Committee, announced his intention to run for Majority Leader with two high profile endorsements of Rep. Jeb Henserling (R-TX), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Chairman of the House Ways and Means committee and Vice Presidential candidate in 2012. With those endorsements, McMorris Rogers announced her intention not to run for Speaker and remain Caucus Chair.
Thus far, it is a horserace between Whip Scalise and Pryce for the Majority Leader position. Both are staunch conservatives from southern states. It should be noted that the House GOP conference does not require the current seat holder to withdraw from leadership to run for higher office, so conceivably if Price wins, Scalise could remain the GOP Whip.
Who takes the helm to lead the GOP will have tremendous impact and shape the eventual FY2016 appropriations as well as impact if the functioning of the government.