House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has tapped Nick Bouknight to helm his political operation as he ramps up to possibly succeed House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the Washington Examiner has learned.
The California Republican has assumed more fundraising responsibilities since Ryan in April announced plans to relinquish the gavel and retire from Congress at year’s end. Hiring Bouknight as executive director, a role that has sat unfilled and mostly handled by senior McCarthy adviser Jeff Miller, beefs up the majority leader’s political team at a critical period.
Republicans are fighting to maintain control of the House in a midterm election shaping up as a backlash against President Trump. If the GOP holds on in November, McCarthy is the favorite to replace Ryan as speaker. The majority leader has a close relationship with Trump and has been endorsed by Ryan and several colleagues. But McCarthy could face challenges. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, are his two most-mentioned competitors.
In Bouknight, whose first day on the job is Monday, McCarthy is getting a seasoned operative with deep political and policy experience — on Capitol Hill and off. Bouknight, an attorney, understands McCarthy, having previously served as his deputy chief of staff, and the two have a strong relationship. Bouknight most recently was a lobbyist for the D.C. firm Capitol Counsel, specializing in health care policy.
That resume should make Bouknight an asset to McCarthy as he expands his political activities, in Washington and around the country.
Top congressional leaders employ political organizations to manage their fundraising, travel on behalf of rank-and-file members, and assist colleagues with their campaigns. On the Republican side, the speaker works closely with the National Republican Congressional Committee and the party’s affiliated House super PAC, Congressional Leadership Fund, transferring millions of dollars in campaign cash to the NRCC and helping raise money for CLF.
This cycle, McCarthy is raising money for House Republicans in conjunction with Vice President Mike Pence. In 2017, those and other efforts added up to $20 million raised for House GOP incumbents and challenger candidates. In the first quarter of this year, McCarthy raked in $8.75 million.
