House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) and Thaddeus
McCotter (Mich.) held on to their GOP leadership positions Wednesday while Rep.
Pete Sessions (Texas) is taking over Rep. Tom Cole’s (Okla.) post.
{mosads}During mostly predictable House Republican Conference
elections, Boehner soundly defeated Rep. Dan Lungren (Calif.) in the race to
become the House Republican leader. As expected, he will be joined at the
leadership table by newly minted Minority Whip Eric Cantor (Va.) and Conference
Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.).
McCotter, the Republican Policy Committee chairman,
survived a challenge from his deputy, Rep. Michael Burgess (Texas), while Cole, ahead of the vote, withdrew
his name from consideration for a second term at the helm of the National
Republican Congressional Committee.
That cleared the way for Sessions, who had been defeated
by Cole in 2006.
“The Republican
Conference this morning elected a talented and skilled team of leaders that I
am proud to support. I’ve worked with each of these new leaders and valued
their advice while serving in leadership myself,” said outgoing Minority Whip
Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). “Now, I stand ready to return that favor, offer counsel when
needed, and continue my efforts to build another principled Republican
majority.”