© Provided by Washington Examiner After a turbulent few months for House Republicans, culminating in the ousting of Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney as conference chairwoman and a lightning-fast replacement, members were eager to move forward and rally together against Democrats.
But the new No. 3 Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik faces an undercurrent of conservative criticism that could pose challenges for her in the future, plus loyalty to former President Donald Trump that is prime for attacks from Democrats.
"We're all united, and Elise is our chair. Now we're going to get busy, pointing out how the Democratic Party is destroying America," said Texas Rep. Chip Roy, who mounted a last-minute challenge to Stefanik and circulated a memo opposing her candidacy based on her voting record.
He punctuated the all-is-well messaging by posting a selfie with one of the cupcakes that Stefanik distributed while campaigning for conference chairwoman, with a note pledging to work to "unify our team," "go on offense and win on the issues," and "highlight all individual members."
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But despite endorsements from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Minority Whip Steve Scalise, and Trump, the Friday morning secret ballot vote 48 hours after the conference voted to remove Cheney from her leadership position resulted in around 30% of House Republicans who cast a ballot voting for someone other than Stefanik. She got 134 votes, Roy got 46, nine people voted present, and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx, and former Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington each got one vote.
"It was a good solid chunk of votes that, I think, agreed that we should have had a better process," Roy said after the vote.
Numerous conservative organizations give Stefanik a lower rating on key votes than they did for Cheney. Club for Growth gives Stefanik a 35% lifetime rating compared to 65% for Cheney; with FreedomWorks, Stefanik was at 37% and Cheney at 53%. FiveThirtyEight's voting record tracker found that Cheney voted with Trump's preference 93% of the time, compared to 78% for Stefanik.
Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert kept her discontent with Stefanaik apparent after the vote on Friday and hinted that a magnifying glass might be on Stefanik to ensure she votes as conservatively as she talks.
"Republicans know when they run as conservatives, they win elections. And that's exactly what we just saw. But when we legislate as conservatives, the people win," she told reporters. "I primaried a five-term incumbent who talked one way and voted another, and we don't need the No. 3 in our party voting alongside the 'Squad' on most of the prominent issues. So, you know, congratulations to Conference Chair Elise Stefanik. I hope that she stays true to the promises she made while she was campaigning to win the seat."
Stefanik, Boebert said, promised to be more conservative and argued that she has become more conservative.
In her first press conference after becoming conference chairwoman on Friday morning, Stefanik diverted away from a question about concerns with her voting record not being conservative enough.
"Listen, the Republican Party is a big-tent party, and in my district is the story of the growth of the Republican Party," Stefanik said. "My district voted for President Obama by double digits and voted for President Trump and myself by double digits."
Jordan told reporters that he was not concerned about Stefanik's voting record being a hurdle for her uniting the party.
"If you're going to unify, focus on all the crazy things Joe Biden, the Biden administration, and the Democrat Congress are doing," said Jordan, a Freedom Caucus member who backed Stefanik for the No. 3 conference spot and worked with her on Trump's 2019 impeachment defense team.
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Colorado Rep. Ken Buck, who nominated Roy for the conference chairman position and called Stefanik a "liberal," also expressed a willingness to move on with Stefanik.
"I think it is a mood of relief," Buck said after the vote. "The problem that Republicans have is President Biden, and Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer."
Tags: News, Elise Stefanik, Chip Roy, Kevin McCarthy, House Republicans, Congress
Original Author: Emily Brooks
Original Location: House Republicans unite around new No. 3 Stefanik - for now