Rep. Byron Donalds will challenge Rep. Elise Stefanik for House GOP conference chair role

Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida has announced a bid for the role of House Republican conference chair. The freshman congressman will challenge Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, who currently occupies the post and announced on Tuesday that she plans to run for the position again.

"As one of the most prominent voices of the House GOP agenda, I'm the best candidate to lead an effective communications strategy should Republicans take back the House. In the weeks and months ahead, we must focus on sending Speaker Pelosi packing by electing a wave of America First candidates. I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues for the Chairmanship of the House GOP Conference in the 118th Congress," Donalds said in a statement.

Stefanik — who was tapped for the post last year after the House GOP ousted outspoken Trump critic Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) from the role — issued a statement on Tuesday declaring her intention to run for House GOP conference chair again.

"For the next 56 days, I'm laser-focused on working to ensure we earn a historic Republican Majority. I am proud to have unified the entire Republican Conference around our country in crisis message and shattered fundraising records as House GOP Conference Chair raising over $10M for candidates and committees this cycle. With the broad support of NY21 and my House GOP colleagues, I intend to run for Conference Chair in the next Congress," Stefanik said in a statement.

Stefanik has served as a lawmaker in the House since 2015, while Donalds entered office in 2021 — both legislators are running for reelection during the 2022 midterms.

Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana, who serves as House GOP vice chair, expressed his support for Stefanik's bid to remain in the House Republican conference chair role.

"Serving as Vice Chair of @HouseGOP alongside @RepStefanik has been one of the great highlights of my time in Congress. I look forward to continuing our work to retake the majority by promoting the GOP agenda, and I fully support her bid to serve another term as Conference Chair," Johnson tweeted.