House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Tuesday that Republicans are looking for what kind of future Rep. Elise Stefanik can bring to the House leadership now that she won’t be serving as President Donald Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations.
“We’re trying to figure out some creative role for Elise to play,” Johnson said.
Stefanik, who represents New York's 21st Congressional District, most recently had served as House GOP Conference chair — the third-highest ranking Republican in the House — a role she’d had since 2021. But the caucus filled that role with Michigan Rep. Lisa McClain after Trump nominated Stefanik as U.N. ambassador shortly after his election in November.
Trump withdrew her nomination last week, citing the concern over plundering another Republican from the House of Representatives when the party’s majority in the chamber is extremely thin and during a crucial time for Trump to enact his agenda. Trump said in his announcement on Truth Social that Stefanik would “rejoin the House Leadership Team.”
“Her work ethic and commitment will help us deliver President Trump's agenda and the American people's agenda,” McClain said.
Stefanik’s backpedal from the role also fizzled out a special election to succeed her that hadn’t been scheduled yet, though the designated Democratic nominee, St. Lawrence County farmer Blake Gendebien, told Capital Tonight on Friday he intends to continue campaigning for the general election for the seat in 2026.
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