Nunes resignation sets off GOP scramble on Ways and Means

Several House Republicans are eyeing the top GOP position on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee in 2023, a race that took a turn with Monday’s announcement that Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) is leaving Congress.

The California Republican, who is resigning from his seat at the end of the year to become CEO of former President Trump’s new media and technology company, had been seen as the front-runner in the next Congress to be the top Republican on the Ways and Means Committee — which has jurisdiction over taxes, health care and trade. 

The current top Republican on the committee, Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, is term-limited in the position and announced earlier this year that this will be his last term in Congress. 

The next top Republican on the Ways and Means Committee will be the panel’s chairman if the GOP wins control of the House in the 2022 midterm elections, or the panel’s ranking member if Democrats maintain the House majority.

House Republicans’ steering committee, which is aligned with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), is expected to select a lawmaker for the position late next year.

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) is the next most senior House Republican on the Ways and Means Committee after Brady and Nunes. Buchanan, who currently is the top Republican on the Ways and Means Committee’s trade subcommittee, announced his plans to seek the top GOP position following Brady’s retirement announcement in April and reiterated this week that he intends to seek the role.

“Best of luck to my friend and colleague, Devin Nunes. He’s a champion for freedom and conservative values and will be greatly missed,” Buchanan said in a statement. “As I indicated earlier this year, I will be running for the Ways and Means chairmanship, but my first priority is to help Republicans win back the U.S. House majority in 2022.”

Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), who is the top Republican on the Ways and Means select revenue measures subcommittee, also intends to seek the chairman or ranking member role, a spokesperson for the congressman told The Hill Tuesday.

Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), the top Republican on the Ways and Means oversight subcommittee, said in a statement to The Hill that he’s considering his options.

“It has been the honor of my life to have the opportunity to serve the people of Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District and to represent their interest on the Ways & Means Committee,” Kelly said. “I will continue to consider every option that increases the voices of my constituents and their policy concerns in whatever capacity is available to me. Right now, I’m weighing all options.”

Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), who is currently the top House Republican on the House Budget Committee, is also seen as a possible candidate for the Ways and Means Committee position. Smith could also remain in the top Budget Committee spot, and is also considering running for an open Senate seat in his home state. A spokesperson for Smith did not immediately respond to an inquiry from The Hill.