McMorris Rodgers Drops Out Of Majority Leader Race After Tom Price’s Entry

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), who serves as House Republican conference chair, the No. 4 slot in House Republican leadership, announced on Monday that she would not run for majority leader.

Her announcement came after after Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) entered the race and earned key endorsements from House colleagues. House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) is also running for majority leader.

“The best way right now for me to empower my colleagues through positive change is to remain conference chair,” McMorris Rodgers said in a statement, according to CNN.

She had not officially entered the race before Monday, but had making calls to ask for support in her bid for majority leader, according to CNN.

Price entered the race on Monday after receiving endorsements from Ways and Means Committee Chair Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).

“In order to succeed, our Leadership must be responsive to you, the Representative of the American people,” Price wrote in a Monday letter to his colleagues, according to Politico. “The hurdles that inevitably lay ahead will require effective and capable leaders. It will require new thinking and a change from the status quo. And it must advance the cause of a smaller, more limited, more accountable government by allowing everyone’s voice to be included.”

McMorris Rodgers did not say on Monday who she will back for majority leader. When asked by Politico, her spokesman Nate Hodson said that the congresswoman “looks forward to hearing the specific plans potential candidates have to make the significant changes to the majority leader position as she has made as conference chair.”