Hensarling to pass on leadership bid

Conservative Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), chairman of the powerful Financial Services Committee, won’t run for leadership, a senior GOP source said Monday.

Hensarling will pass on a bid for both Speaker and majority leader following Ohio Republican John Boehner’s surprise announcement Friday that he would relinquish the Speaker’s gavel and step down from Congress on Oct. 30.

He will instead back a fellow conservative, Budget Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.) in the race for majority leader, the No. 2 job, according to a senior GOP lawmaker who received a call from Hensarling over the weekend.

A Hensarling spokeswoman had no comment. But Hensarling passed on a leadership bid as recently as last year, ultimately deciding not to challenge Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in the race for the No. 2 job after then-Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) was ousted from office in his GOP primary.

Hensarling’s decision makes next month’s majority leader race a three-way contest between Price, Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and GOP Conference Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), the only woman running so far for a top-tier leadership post.
 
Current Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is the heavy favorite over Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.) in the race to replace Boehner.