Boehner Sets Leadership Elections for Oct. 8

Boehner has picked a date for leadership elections (Bill Clark/Roll Call)

Posted September 30, 2015 at 11:55am

Elections for Speaker John A. Boehner’s successor — and other potential leadership openings — will take place in exactly one week and a day.

“After consulting with our conference, a large majority of our members have made clear they want these elections held next week,” the Ohio Republican said in a Wednesday morning statement. “With their considerations in mind, the House leadership elections will take place on Thursday, October 8.” Not every lawmaker will be pleased with this decision. Many House Republicans wanted to have the elections closer to Boehner’s Oct. 30 resignation to allow more “listening sessions” on how to ease conference dysfunction and to evaluate how candidates would respond to the challenges ahead.

Some members are also clamoring for a change to the rules that would force candidates for speaker, majority leader and whip to vacate their existing positions in order to run. The matter was discussed in a closed-door, members’ only meeting Tuesday night, but no decisions were made.

Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Ill., told reporters he expected a member to make a motion in conference to hold a vote on the potential change, but that would need to happen quickly — the House finishes up business for the week on Thursday and will be in session for just two days next week before the elections are scheduled.

Current contenders include Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla., for speaker, with McCarthy the favorite to win.

Assuming things go according to plan, McCarthy’s promotion would leave his role open, and Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., and Budget Chairman Tom Price, R-S.C., are going head to head on that. (Incidentally, Oct. 8 is Price’s 61st birthday).

If Scalise wins the majority leader race, at least four lawmakers are eying the whip slot. Definite candidates are Chief Deputy Whip Patrick T. McHenry, R-N.C., and Rules Chairman Pete Sessions, R-Texas. Reps. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., and Dennis A. Ross, R-Fla., are also said to be interested.