National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions has named eight vice chairmen to lead the GOP’s mission to protect its massive gains from the recent midterms and to build a larger majority in 2012.
 
“I am proud to announce my eight colleagues who will join NRCC leadership and help our team achieve another successful election cycle,” the Texas lawmaker said in a statement Friday morning. “These Members bring to the committee different skill sets and experiences that will add to the strong team we’ve assembled. I commend our new NRCC leadership team as they support our fellow House Republicans to strengthen the Majority next election.”

The GOP picked up a net gain of 63 seats — including the vast majority of swing districts — in the last election. Holding onto every seat, especially in a year that a Democratic president will top the ballot, could prove challenging.

To meet that challenge, Sessions will look to familiar faces such as Deputy Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.), Redistricting Vice Chairman Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) and Coalitions Vice Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.).

New NRCC lieutenants include Rep. John Shimkus (Ill.), mentoring vice chairman who will work largely with freshmen; Rep. Diane Black (Tenn.), communications vice chairman; Rep. Vern Buchanan (Fla.), vice chairman of finances; Rep. Steve Scalise (La.), recruitment vice chairman; Rep. Virginia Foxx (N.C.), vice chairwoman of grass-roots development; and Rep. Ed Royce (Calif.), who will coordinate regional chairmen.