A member of the House Republican leadership team has been whipping votes for New York Rep. Elise Stefanik to replace House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney as the third-ranking GOP member.
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.) told The Post on Tuesday that he is confident the upstate New York congresswoman has the support needed to obtain the position.
Cheney
has come under fire for her criticisms of former President Donald Trump and split with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), with a conference vote expected as soon as next week to determine whether she will retain her post.
Stefanik, 36, a former chair of the moderate Tuesday Group who played a leading role in defending Trump during his impeachment hearings, has a close working relationship with McCarthy — and GOP lawmakers said they feel a female member should replace Cheney should she be ousted from her leadership role.
“I don’t know how many members have been on the whipping efforts but I’ve been actively engaged whipping for Elise Stefanik and the reason that I think we need Elise, is if you just look at what Elise has done, she’s proven that she gets this on the merits,” Reschenthaler said.
“She was amazing when Trump was facing impeachment, she was one of his biggest defenders and she did that very well, so she has a command of the messaging, which is obviously important for conference chair.”
Reschenthaler said that from his talks with members, he believes the New York Republican is the likely successor to Cheney, noting the members he’s spoken with are pushing for a younger, pro-Trump voice to fill the position.
“I think Elise has the votes after talking to people — the fact that [Republican Study Committee Chairman] Jim Banks [R-Ind.] is not running opens a huge lane for Elise,” he continued. ....
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