McHenry vies for majority whip

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), the incumbent chief deputy vote counter, formally announced Tuesday that he will run for majority whip.

Earlier Tuesday, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) announced he will run for majority leader. McHenry, who serves as Scalise’s second-in-command on the whip team, touted his experience corralling votes over the last 15 months.

“Serving as Chief Deputy Whip, I have seen firsthand what the Whip job entails. Whether collaborating with you on our response to the crisis at the border last summer, passing a balanced budget, or delivering on [trade promotion authority] this spring, I have worked tirelessly with you to ensure every House Republican’s voice is heard,” McHenry wrote in a letter to House Republicans.

{mosads}“From meeting with you on the House floor to calls and text messages, I have made myself as accessible as possible to every Member,” McHenry wrote.

McHenry stressed that he has tried to be an “honest broker” with colleagues. 

“While I cannot claim to have agreed with or pleased everyone on everything, our relationship has always been a two-way street, and I have kept an open dialogue with you,” McHenry said.

Scalise selected McHenry as chief deputy whip upon becoming majority whip in June 2014.

McHenry will face off against Rep. Dennis Ross (R-Fla.), a deputy whip, for the majority whip slot, should Scalise win the race for majority leader. House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas) is also in the race, while Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) is considering a run for the office.

The current House majority leader, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), is considered the favorite to succeed Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) as Speaker.

Boehner will step down from Congress at the end of October. House Republicans will gather for a special conference meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Capitol basement to discuss their path forward and the date for the leadership elections.

This story was updated at 1:03 p.m.