First posted on Instagram · @profilopolitics
Rep. Greg Steube of Florida announced on Thursday, November 5, that he is running for chair of the House Republican Conference, presenting himself as the conservative choice to lead the party after its heavy midterm losses.
In a social media post and a letter to his colleagues, Steube argued that the party's defeat was not a matter of ideology. "Republicans didn't lose because we were too conservative," he said. "We lost because we failed to deliver on the conservative policies we promised. I'm not interested in preserving the status quo."
Steube is entering a three-way contest for the post, against Rep. Erin Houchin of Indiana and the incumbent chair, Rep. Lisa McClain of Michigan. The conference chair leads the party's messaging operation in the House.
The announcement came a day after Steube publicly called on House and Senate Republican leaders to step aside so the party could take what he called "a truly conservative direction," a demand he made in a post on X on Wednesday, November 4.
The race for conference chair is part of a wider leadership scramble after Speaker Mike Johnson said on Wednesday that he will not seek to lead House Republicans in the next Congress. Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan are both running for minority leader, and the conference is due to elect its new leadership team on Tuesday, November 10. Candidates must declare by Friday, November 6. Decision Desk HQ projects 258 Democrats and 177 Republicans in the next House.