House Republicans tapped Oregon Rep. Greg Walden as the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee for the 2014 cycle. Walden, who ran unopposed, succeeds Texas Rep. Pete Sessions, who oversaw two successful cycles, in which Republicans won and held the chamber.

Walden, Sessions’ longtime deputy, was magnanimous in his victory.

“Under Chairman Sessions’ leadership at the NRCC, House Republicans have won the two biggest majorities since World War II. I have big, Texas-sized boots to fill,” he said in a statement. “But as Pete’s deputy for the last four years, I’ve helped implement a shared vision for the NRCC and now seek to build on that foundation.”

Sessions said he was pleased with the pick.

“As a team at the NRCC for the past four years, Greg and I successfully retired Nancy Pelosi as Speaker and stayed on offense to re-elect a strong Republican majority in the House,” the Texan said in a statement.

“I am delighted that our Republican Conference has chosen him to serve as the next NRCC Chairman, and I have the utmost confidence that he will continue to sell the fight across the country for principles that support the free-enterprise system and the American Dream,” Sessions said.