House GOP Chair Calls for Delay in Republican Leadership Elections After Midterm Losses
Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith called for Republican leadership elections to be delayed after the midterms, as CBS News reported Democrats would hold their own leadership elections.
House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) called for Republican leadership elections to be delayed, according to The Hill's report on his remarks. Smith argued that Republicans need to reflect on their midterm losses before moving forward as a conference.
According to The Hill, Smith said Republicans "need to understand how and why we lost the trust" before choosing new leaders. The Hill reported that his remarks came less than a week after the midterm elections.
The Hill's account does not specify what form the proposed delay would take, how long it would last, or when the Republican conference would vote. The available summary of that report also does not say whether other members have endorsed Smith's proposal.
CBS News reported that members of Congress are returning to Capitol Hill for a lame-duck session, the first time since Democrats' "sweeping midterm wins." In a video report by CBS News, correspondent Taurean Small covered the return, and the outlet's headline states that Democrats will hold leadership elections.
The two outlets' accounts concern different parties. The Hill's report addresses the timing of Republican leadership elections, while CBS News' headline addresses Democratic leadership elections. Neither report, as summarized here, says whether the Republican conference has agreed to Smith's call, or when the Democratic vote will take place.
Sources: The Hill: House GOP chair calls to delay leadership elections, reform rules; CBS News: Lawmakers return to Capitol Hill for lame-duck session, Democrats to hold leadership elections.