A young female House Republican readied herself Tuesday to take on the new chairman of the House GOP’s campaign body after voicing her intention to champion women candidates in primary elections.
“I will continue speaking out [about] the crisis level of GOP women in Congress & will try to lead and change that by supporting strong GOP women candidates through my leadership PAC. But NEWSFLASH I wasn’t asking for permission,” Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., wrote in a pair of tweets Tuesday, referring to Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., the new leader of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
But ? ?NEWSFLASH??I wasn’t asking for permission.
—>”If that’s what Elise wants to do, then that’s her call, her right…But I think that’s a mistake.”
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) December 4, 2018
Stefanik’s Twitter retort came after she told Roll Call, in an article published Tuesday, that she would be stepping back as the NRCC’s first female head of recruitment after a dismal showing during the 2018 midterm elections. In her role, she recruited 100 women candidates, but only one ran a successful race this cycle.
Instead, Stefanik told the outlet she would prefer to invest in her political action committee, E-PAC, so she can support female talent competing in primary contests.
“I think it’s really important as a woman who faced a very competitive primary in 2014, we need to support those women earlier and learn the lessons of how effective the other side was in getting women through these competitive primaries,” she said.
Stefanik’s strategy, however, faces opposition from the NRCC. Emmer told Roll Call Republicans usually steer clear of primaries because of the threat that voters may not “take ownership” of the candidate if Washington becomes too involved.
“If that’s what Elise wants to do, then that’s her call, her right. But I think that’s a mistake,” he said. “It shouldn’t be just based on looking for a specific set of ingredients — gender, race, religion — and then we’re going to play in the primary.”
“You really have to get in the district,” Emmer said. “So, if Elise does that — actually going out and sitting down with these people, which she’s more than capable of — I think maybe then it’ll have success. … But I think she’ll find out — again, I only say this from my life experience — I think she’ll find out, you won’t have to worry about the primary.”
Stefanik, a former George W. Bush White House staffer, became the youngest woman elected to Congress at the age of 30 when she won her campaign in 2014. Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., took that honor from her in November when she won her bid for office at 29.
Next year, 89 Democratic women will be seated in the House as part of the 116th Congress, including 35 freshmen. The GOP will only have 13 female representatives in the House.
