Should the GOP win the House after the midterm elections, former President Donald Trump has expressed he supports Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA.) to take the reigns as House Majority Leader.
The former President also expressed his support for Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) to serve another term as chair of the House Republican Conference, describing her as “fantastic” in a Fox News Digital interview.
Trump made a slew of endorsements in the interview he gave on Monday (November 7) night, hinting he may support Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) as Senate Republican leader, describing him as “tough” and censuring current Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as a “lousy leader.”
McCarthy’s path to House Speaker, if Republicans win a House majority as anticipated, is unobstructed. He doesn’t have any challengers and is likely to have the support of some of the party’s major influences, after promising to restore Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s assignments and give Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) the role of House Judiciary Committee chair should he win.
Working in McCarthy’s favor is the amicable relationship he still holds with Trump.
But, Stefani, despite being a favorite for a second term as chair of the House Republican Conference, has a challenger in first-term Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.).
In September, when it was widely speculated that Stefanik would be pursuing a role as whip, Donalds announced his intention to become chair of the House Republican Conference.
If Republicans win the House majority, current House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) will move up — unopposed — to House Majority Leader, leaving his position as whip available.
The role of whip is currently the most contested in the GOP caucus, with Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), and Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) all vying for the role.
