Look for the North Carolina delegation to become leaders in the 118th Congress.
As lawmakers nominate and select who holds leadership positions next term, several of North Carolina’s 14 U.S. House members have already received new roles or are on their way to holding one.
Rep. Richard Hudson, a former Concord resident who now lives in Moore County, boasted in a news release this month that he has ascended higher in congressional leadership than any other North Carolina Republican in history by being named chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
That spot atop the GOP campaign committee makes Hudson fourth in line to be House speaker.
Not to be outdone, Rep. Patrick McHenry’s name is now being floated as a possibility to be speaker of the House if Rep. Kevin McCarthy loses his bid for the position, The New York Times reported on Dec. 15.
McHenry, a Republican from Denver, did not return a request for comment on the New York Times article, but even if McHenry doesn’t become speaker, he’s not doing too shabby in the 118th Congress. With Republicans taking over the House, McHenry will become chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.
Virginia Foxx, a Republican from Watauga County, received a waiver to bypass a term-limit rule in order to retake the top spot as chairwoman of the House Education and Labor Committee. But her election isn’t a done deal, because now Foxx faces a challenger for the position.
Some North Carolina Democrats also have new roles as their party moves into the minority.
Deborah Ross, a Democrat from Wake County, has been named one of the party’s chief deputy whips by Democratic Whip Katherine Clark.
Incoming House freshman Don Davis was named to represent members of the Region 7 Congressional Delegation on the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
RICHARD HUDSON
When Hudson takes over as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, his focus will be to increase in 2024 the number of U.S. House members from his party. He succeeds Rep. Tom Emmer, a Republican from Minnesota.
The committee helps Republican candidates and various organizations of the party financially, through technical and research support, and provides voter registration, education and turnout programs.
“The American people have just entrusted House Republicans with a majority to be the last line of defense in stopping the disastrous Biden administration and saving our country from out-of-control spending, inflation, energy prices, crime and an open southern border,” Hudson said in a news release. “Working together with our leadership team and the entire conference, I am confident we can build on our successes and learn from missed opportunities to expand our majority in 2024.”
PATRICK MCHENRY
As House Financial Services Committee chairman, McHenry said in a news release he plans to focus on oversight efforts of the Biden administration, pursue bipartisan legislation to put Americans back in control of personal financial data, enhance capital formation opportunities and develop a regulatory framework for digital assets.
“After serving on this committee for my entire tenure in Congress, I’m prepared to lead a dynamic group of Republican members as we work to deliver on our Commitment to America,” McHenry said in the release. “I’m excited to get to work to rebuild the greatest economy of my lifetime, which we experienced pre-pandemic under Republican leadership.”
Though McHenry received the nomination for the committee, he still needs the House Republican Conference to vote in order to make his selection official.
DEBORAH ROSS
Ross begins serving in January as one of 10 deputy whips under Clark.
Clark said in a news release she picked a group of Democrats with diverse experience and perspectives.
“Under the experienced leadership of our incoming Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, we are ready to deliver results for the American people, work across the aisle where we can, and fight against extremist policies,” Ross said in a news release.
DON DAVIS
Davis became the only freshman to be named a regional representative on the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, he said in a news release. His region includes Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
In this position, Davis will help appoint members of the House Democratic Caucus to committee seats and advise party leadership on policy.
“I look forward to working to ensure our delegation is in the best position to help advance legislation that will improve the lives of our constituents,” Davis said in the release. “As a member of the House Democratic leadership team, I’m ready to build on the progress we have made by delivering new and meaningful results for the American people.”
VIRGINIA FOXX
Foxx reached the Republicans’ six-year term limit for holding the title of chair or ranking member in a committee, but received a term-limit waiver.
If she is named chairwoman of the education committee, she would succeed Rep. Bobby Scott, a Democrat from Virginia. But Rep. Tim Walberg, a Republican from Michigan, has challenged Foxx for the position.
Both want the job leading 53 lawmakers in oversight of education, workforce development and protections, health, employment, labor and pension matters.