Wagner passes on NRCC bid, backs Stivers

by TheHill.com - 07/14/16 1:55 PM ET

Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) will not run to be the next chair of the House Republican campaign arm and instead is throwing her support behind Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio).

In a statement Thursday, Wagner said she had been humbled by colleagues encouraging her to run for chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).

{mosads}”Though we have had great success in electing conservative leaders to Congress, we must not allow Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton to diminish our gains,” she said.

“Based on my experience working with Rep. Stivers in House leadership and at the NRCC, I am confident that he will lead us forward and build upon the record breaking success that we have achieved under Chairman Greg Walden.”

Her decision sets up a two-way race between Stivers and Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) to succeed Walden (R-Ore.) as NRCC chair. Walden is stepping down at the end of the year after wrapping up his second campaign cycle.

Williams, who owns a car dealership, has touted his past fundraising experience; he’s raised cash for people like former President George W. Bush and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

Stivers is one of Walden’s three deputy NRCC chairmen. He leads the committee’s Patriot Program, which focuses on protecting Republicans in tough races.

Wagner, who also had a deputy role under Walden, is a Bush family loyalist and a former top Republican National Committee official.

Her move will fuel speculation that she may try to challenge vulnerable two-term Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), who’s up for reelection in 2018.

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