House Republicans on Wednesday ousted Rep. Liz Cheney as House GOP conference chair and set the stage for her to be replaced with someone less keen on challenging former President Donald Trump’s stolen election claims and lingering grip on the party.
Ms. Cheney was removed by a voice vote.
The leadership shakeup comes as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy tries to keep members on message and unified in the run-up to the 2022 midterm elections.
“It comes down to this: A leader has to put their personal interests and biases aside when they are speaking for the Republican conference,” Rep. Tom McClintock said Wednesday on C-SPAN. “She has always been unwilling to do that.”
“It is about whether our leaders will speak for us, or they will attack us,” the California Republican said. “It is not all that complicated.”
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Rep. Elise Stefanik has emerged as the most likely successor to Ms. Cheney. The New York Republican has secured support from Mr. McCarthy, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise and Mr. Trump.
It marks a dramatic turn of events for Ms. Cheney, a daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney. Ms. Cheney, 54, survived rebellion earlier this year after she joined nine other House Republicans in voting to impeach Mr. Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Mr. Trump on Wednesday cheered on her ouster.
