DALLAS — As Republicans seek to replace just-ousted Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney, Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin is weighing a run for the position.
Roy has not officially thrown in his hat for the No. 3 GOP leadership post, but a spokesman said he wasn’t “ruling anything out” in a statement Wednesday.
“His focus is on serving Texas’ 21st Congressional district, the American people, and the Constitution,” a spokesman for Roy said in a statement Wednesday. “But if the position must be filled, then this must be a contested race — not a coronation.”
In an interview with Texas talk radio host Mark Davis, Roy said he’ll know “by the end of the day” if he will run.
“I’m prayerfully considering what’s good for our country,” Roy said on KSKY-AM. “But I do believe that we ought to have some opposition. We’ll figure that out today.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., a moderate Republican turned Trump defender, has been moving to lock down the position, but Roy, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, sent out a memo Tuesday discouraging his fellow Republicans from backing the New Yorker.
Roy argued the party “should either choose someone who reflects our conservative values, or perhaps leave the position vacant and focus not on a position most people do not care about, but instead a strong agenda based on defending Americans from the radical left...”
Most Texas Republicans were silent on their vote on Cheney’s ouster, which was done by voice vote in a closed-door meeting Wednesday, but some members, like Reps. Lance Gooden, R-Terrell, and Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo, proudly announced that they voted to remove her from party leadership.
Some Texas Republicans have already put their support behind Stefanik, who has also garnered support from former President Donald Trump and top Republican leaders. Trump called Stefanik a “gifted communicator” in a statement Monday.
“Elise has intelligence, an endorsement from American Patriot Brandon Judd and the National Border Patrol Council, she has an A+ from the NRA, and she loves our Veterans,” Trump said. “We need someone in Leadership who has experience flipping districts from Blue to Red as we approach the important 2022 midterms, and that’s Elise!”
Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, tweeted out her support for Stefanik, who she said helped her win her congressional race in the fall. Stefanik’s Elevate PAC helps boost Republican women to Congress.
“She has already proven to be a leader in defeating Democrats around the country,” Van Duyne said in a tweet. “Her support in my race was invaluable, and she will be a great asset to lead us back to the majority.”
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, also threw his support behind Stefanik, saying she “will be a Solution Seeking Conference Chair. She understands the border crisis well and will keep Republicans united against Nancy Pelosi’s radical agenda,” in a tweet.
“Elise gets it!” Gonzales said in another tweet.
Gooden said in an appearance on Newsmax that Roy might run against Stefanik, but “I suspect Elise will win. She has the support of the majority of the caucus.”
Gooden said that concerns that Stefanik is not conservative enough for the position “are put to bed with President Trump’s full endorsement.”
House Republicans will vote on Cheney’s replacement Friday morning.
