NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions announced this morning that he will not make a run for Majority Whip and will instead remain head of the NRCC for another term. The announcement means the GOP will avoid a tough leadership fight with Rep. Kevin McCarthy, according to ABC News.
That was soon-to-be Speaker John Boehner’s preference, and, as GOP sources predicted just before the election, the GOP leadership is transitioning fairly smoothly into the majority.
Sessions’ statement said that he didn’t feel his work at the NRCC was yet done, and he wanted to stay on in order to increase the Republican majority in 2012. He added:
“I look forward to leading our new Majority through the challenges of re-electing over 80 freshman Republican Members, navigating congressional re-districting, and maximizing a presidential election cycle. Additionally, I look forward to leading our new Majority through an expanded policy leadership role that will enable me to shape and promote the Republican agenda among Members and across America.
The NRCC statement from Sessions also included statement from Boehner, highlighting their apparent solidarity on the issue and Boehner’s support for him:
I am very pleased that he has decided to seek another term as NRCC Chairman. Additionally, I’ve asked Pete to take the lead for New Member Development. Pete’s position on the Rules Committee gives him a unique vantage point to help our new Members navigate policy issues and his many friendships across the Capitol will help in introducing our new colleagues to the Senate.
The one twist to Boehner’s plans for a undramatic leadership transition has been Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann (R-MN), who’s running against the party’s favored candidate Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) to be the next GOP conference chair. But Hensarling has the support of key principles, is a close ideological match for Bachmann, and is expected to win the contest.
[Ed note: this post was edited after publication]
Brian Beutler
Brian Beutler is TPM's senior congressional reporter. Since 2009, he's led coverage of health care reform, Wall Street reform, taxes, the GOP budget, the government shutdown fight, and the debt limit fight. He can be reached at brian@talkingpointsmemo.com.
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