Steve Scalise Announces Bid For Majority Leader

Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., who leads a conservative faction of lawmakers in the Republican Study Committee, smiles after he was elected to be the new House majority whip, to replace current whip, Rep. Kevin McCarthy,... Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., who leads a conservative faction of lawmakers in the Republican Study Committee, smiles after he was elected to be the new House majority whip, to replace current whip, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in the aftermath of Majority Leader Eric Cantor's primary defeat earlier this month, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 19, 2014. Scalise was in a three-way race with Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Ill., and Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), who currently holds the No. 3 spot in House Republican leadership as the majority whip, officially announced on Tuesday morning that he will run to be House majority leader.

“You don’t need me to tell you that both our country and our conference are at a crossroads,” Scalise wrote in a letter to his Republican colleagues announcing his bid. “To move our majority forward, fight back against President Obama’s radical agenda, and advance our shared conservative principles, our Republican conference must stand united.”

Scalise told his colleagues that as majority leader, he would use the same “inclusive approach” he used as majority whip.

“It’s time to unite behind a strategy that lets us make the case for our conservative governing vision, and empowers you to drive the public policy narrative in your own district,” he wrote.

Scalise’s announcement follows House Budget Committee Chair Rep. Tom Price’s (R-GA) decision to enter the race with two endorsements from top Republicans.

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Notable Replies

  1. So who is angling for the Whip position? It seems pretty clear that McCarthy is going to have one knife at his back in the Majority position, but will it be two?

  2. So the Republicans are going to make a kluxer the House Majority Leader. How very special.

  3. Great speech! Comprehensive! On message! Hit all the talking points, buzzwords and trash talking of the president we’ve come to expect with just a touch of sincerity.

  4. Now they’ll be possibly led in Congress by an actual racist, while their leading presidential nominee spouts xenophobia and birtherisms.

    That outreach program is proceeding apace.

  5. Sorry, but I can’t take these Tea Partiers seriously unless they give the job to Louie Gohmert (R-Mars).

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