Richard Hudson, the current chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), has confirmed his bid for a second term, quelling any speculation about his future and solidifying the House GOP’s leadership as it prepares for the next Congress. His move comes despite expectations that House Republicans will maintain control of the chamber with a narrow majority.
Hudson reached out to his colleagues on Sunday with a letter requesting their support for another term. In the letter, Hudson highlighted the challenges midterm elections pose for the party in power, noting the financial investment Democrats have made in negative campaigning.
GOP leadership solidified as Hudson joins other top Republicans in seeking re-election
He warned that without experienced leadership at the NRCC, Democrats could potentially take control, derailing President Trump’s agenda with investigations and impeachment efforts. “We cannot let that happen,” Hudson stressed.
Hudson had also been considered for the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, especially if he helped secure a GOP victory. With current chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers retiring, the committee will soon have an open seat. However, Reps. Bob Latta and Brett Guthrie have long been contenders for the role, making it a competitive race.
With Hudson’s decision, all top House GOP leaders are seeking to retain their posts, with no challengers emerging before the internal GOP election on Wednesday. Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and Conference Chair Elise Stefanik have all reached out to their colleagues for support.
While Stefanik is expected to join the Trump administration if offered a position, leaving her conference chair role vacant, Johnson also faces uncertainty. Although he needs only a majority within the GOP conference to secure the nomination, he will require nearly unanimous support on the House floor to solidify his position, a challenge given the slim majority and lingering dissent from some GOP members.
A contested race exists for the lesser-known position of chair of the Republican Policy Committee. Rep. Gary Palmer, who has held the role since 2019, is seeking re-election but faces competition from Rep. Kevin Hern. Hern, the outgoing chair of the Republican Study Committee, has garnered support from several prominent colleagues, including House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole.
Additionally, House GOP Vice Chair Blake Moore, who took over after Johnson ascended to the Speakership, and Conference Secretary Lisa McClain are both seeking re-election to their positions.
