North Carolina Rep. Mark Walker, who’s vying to lead the Republican Study Committee, received endorsements from eight House GOP colleagues on Monday, including two powerful committee chairmen and a member of leadership.
By rolling out the slew of endorsements now, the freshman congressman and Baptist minister is trying to convey momentum ahead of a critical meeting Tuesday with the conservative group’s founders.
{mosads}Walker’s backers represent a broad swath of the House GOP conference. They include Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady and Homeland Security Chairman Mike McCaul, both Texas Republicans; and two North Carolina colleagues, Reps. Richard Hudson and Virginia Foxx, who serves in leadership as secretary of the GOP conference.
The other supporters are Reps. Mike Rogers (Ala.), as well as fellow freshman Reps. John Ratcliffe (Texas), Mike Bishop (Mich.) and Mia Love (Utah), the first black female Republican elected to Congress.
“There is authenticity to Mark that makes him a natural leader. He understands that trust is earned, but also has to be maintained,” Love said in a statement first shared with The Hill.
Added Foxx, who is the first member of GOP leadership to endorse in the race: “You can get more done when you don’t care who gets the credit. That is how Mark has approached Congress and it is refreshing.”
Brady, chairman of the powerful tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, plays on the congressional baseball team with Walker, a pitcher.
“Mark knows how to win – and not just on the baseball field,” Brady said in a statement shared with The Hill. “I saw that first hand when he rolled up his sleeves on the [miscellaneous tariff bill] debate and went to work on behalf of American manufacturers.”
So far, Walker is the only declared candidate in the race to succeed term-limited RSC Chairman Bill Flores of Texas. Two members of the far-right Freedom Caucus — Reps. Trent Franks (Ariz.) and Andy Harris (R-Md.) — are flirting with bids of their own to head the 178-member, policy-focused group, though neither has formally jumped in the race.
Walker said he has four to five commitments from Freedom Caucus members, but only freshman Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) confirmed he’s backing Walker.
Loudermilk “believes that Rep. Walker’s style of effective conservatism and willingness to empower members makes him the best choice to lead the RSC,” spokeswoman Shawna Mercer said.
On Tuesday night, Walker, Franks and Harris will interview with RSC founders and past chairmen, including Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), and Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) and Tom Price (R-Ga.). RSC members will vote on their new chairman after the presidential election, on Nov. 17.
It would be unusual for a freshman backbencher to win the RSC gavel. But Walker said he has a “strong conservative record” and was the first in his class to have legislation signed into law (a human trafficking bill).
In an interview Monday, Walker said he’s running on a platform of what he calls “effective conservatism.”
“It means we ask the question everyday: Is it about winning the argument or making the difference?” Walker said. “Anybody can hold a position, but how can you move them to actions steps.”
– Updated at 7:03 p.m.