Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., the influential leader of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, is poised to play a major role in deciding the next speaker if House Republicans maintain the majority in November.

Meadows holds considerable influence over a faction of more than three dozen lawmakers whose votes would be critical to ensuring the election of a Republican speaker, which requires a full House vote. Republicans can’t elect the speaker of their choice without a significant portion of the HFC.