House GOP elects Stefanik to replace Cheney as conference chairwoman

Roy launched a last-minute challenge to Stefanik after some conservatives said Stefanik was not conservative enough to lead the conference.

But Stefanik had the backing of the two top Republicans, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steve Scalise, as well as the enthusiastic endorsement of former President Donald Trump.

Stefanik played a key public role in defending Trump during his first House impeachment trial, and she continues to endorse his agenda and policies as critical to ensuring the House can win back the majority in 2022.

Republicans voted to remove Cheney earlier this week in part because Cheney was publicly attacking Trump and working to steer the party away from him, which lawmakers said was dividing the party and distracting from the mission of regaining the House majority next year.

A small group of conservatives opposed Stefanik and pointed to her voting record as evidence that she did not adequately represent the majority of the conference.

Stefanik has voted against some key GOP legislation, including the signature 2017 tax cut bill because it capped state and local tax deductions that affected many high-tax blue states, including New York.

Before entering the closed-door conference, Roy seemed resigned to his likely loss to Stefanik.

“All that matters is how the country does and how the Republican Party does,” Roy said. “I think it’s critically important that we have a strong united message against a crazy, radical agenda.”

But he wanted to have more time for the conference to choose a replacement for Cheney.

“We ought to have a better process,” Roy told reporters.

Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado, who nominated Roy on Friday, said, “Chip was offering people an alternative. I don’t think anybody expected Chip to win.”