House Budget chairwoman to step down amid governor’s race

House Budget Committee Chairwoman Diane Black (R-Tenn.) announced Wednesday that she will leave the post after a successor is picked.

Black, who took the reins of the committee earlier this year, is running for governor of her home state in 2018. The lawmaker’s office said that Black plans to remain in Congress.

“It has been an honor to serve as Chairman of the House Budget Committee, working alongside members this year to recommend responsible and balanced policies for building a better America,” Black said in a statement. “I am very proud of the hard work of our members and all we accomplished, especially offering real reforms for mandatory programs and unlocking pro-growth tax reform.”

Black took the lead on a budget resolution which called for cuts to mandatory spending and paved the way for tax legislation. The House approved the measure, though it ultimately adopted the Senate’s resolution.

In an op-ed on Fox News’s website, Black encouraged future Congresses to reduce mandatory spending.

“It is now up to the U.S. Senate and future Congresses to follow our lead on mandatory spending,” she said. “If we don’t address mandatory spending programs, our country is headed for a sovereign debt crisis — and believe me, this crisis is closer than most will admit.”

Under GOP rules, committee chairs are generally expected to vacate those positions if they run for outside office. But Black continued to serve in the position following her gubernatorial campaign announcement in August in order to steer the House through the passage of the budget resolution.

In addition to leading the Budget Committee, Black serves on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.

Several lawmakers have been floated in the past as possible successors to Black on the budget panel, including GOP Reps. Bill Johnson (Ohio), Steve Womack (Ark.) and Rob Woodall (Ga.).

The new chair will be chosen by the House Republican Steering Committee, which includes House GOP leadership and regional representatives.