Races are heating up for majority leader and whip in the wake of Speaker John A. Boehner’s resignation announcement — but potential contests are brewing down-ballot, too.  

Sources confirmed to CQ Roll Call Saturday afternoon that in the event Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., makes a play for majority leader, Conference Vice Chairwoman Lynn Jenkins, R-Kan., would look to move up one slot. While McMorris Rodgers hasn’t made a formal announcement, she has all but declared her intentions — she and her staff were working the phones late Friday and into Saturday to get a lead on her main competition, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La.  

In the meantime, Jenkins has also been making calls to members in exploration of a run in the event of an opening, or when McMorris Rodgers makes her majority leader run official.  

Jenkins was likely to try to move up the ladder at the conclusion of the 114th Congress in any case: By the end of 2016, she and McMorris Rodgers will have both served their maximum of two terms in their respective positions. But Boehner’s surprise announcement readjusted everybody’s plans.