Ambitious House Republican and Maxine Waters antagonist Patrick McHenry steps up political operation

Rep. Patrick McHenry on Wednesday will relaunch his political action committee, moving to fundraise his way to greater clout in the House and create opportunities for his party to recapture the majority in 2020.

McHenry, 43, is now the top Republican on the influential Financial Services Committee after spending four-plus years as chief deputy to the GOP whip, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana. With House Republicans in the minority for the first time in nearly a decade, the ambitious North Carolina Republican decided to recalibrate his political operation, expanding his existing organization and christening it “Innovation PAC.”