Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) has officially entered the race for House GOP conference chair, setting up a competitive three-way contest against Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) and the current chair, Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.). A source with knowledge of the decision confirmed Steube's candidacy, intensifying the leadership battle as Republicans prepare to operate in the minority.
The conference chair position is critical for shaping the party's message and strategy, especially after Democrats regained control of the House in Tuesday's elections. Steube's entry follows his sharp criticism of GOP leadership in a social media post the day after the midterms, where he accused them of being "embarrassingly weak" and failing to govern conservatively.
In his post, Steube wrote: "Instead of standing firm on our principles, you have governed out of fear, continually knelt to the moderates in our conference (who all got crushed last night anyway), and discarded conservatives like me who warned of last night's results." He further called for new leadership to take "a truly conservative direction, with the courage to do the things we were elected to do."
Steube also appeared on Newsmax's "Rob Schmitt Tonight" on Wednesday, where he hinted at a leadership bid. "I just don't think that we should be putting the same people who were messaging the last two years, and we lost 30-something seats," he said. "Why would you put them back in the exact same positions and think that the outcome is going to be different in two years?"
His challenge comes as Houchin launched her bid to unseat McClain earlier this week. In a "Dear Colleague" letter to fellow Republicans, Houchin emphasized her extensive background in public relations, communications, and campaigns, arguing that her experience makes her the best fit for the role.
McClain, meanwhile, has been rallying support, touting endorsements from dozens of House Republicans and two incoming GOP freshmen in a post on X. Her campaign signals that she intends to hold onto the post despite the mounting challenges.
The race for conference chair is part of a broader reshuffling of House GOP leadership following the election losses. The party's return to the minority has triggered internal debates about messaging and strategy, with some conservatives demanding a more aggressive approach.
Steube's candidacy adds a vocal conservative voice to the contest, potentially appealing to members who feel the current leadership has been too accommodating to moderates. His criticism of the party's direction resonates with a faction that believes the GOP lost seats because it failed to deliver on its promises.
As the race unfolds, the outcome will hinge on which candidate can convince their colleagues they have the vision and skills to unify the conference and effectively counter Democratic initiatives. The election for conference chair is expected to take place when the new Congress convenes in January.
