House Republicans are heading into a leadership election that could reshape the party’s direction following significant losses in the 2026 midterm elections. At the center of the race is a Florida congressman who says the GOP’s problems stem not from being too conservative, but from failing to follow through on its promises.
Florida U.S. Rep. Greg Steube has entered the race for Republican conference chair, the No. 3 position in House GOP leadership. He is competing against Michigan Rep. Lisa McClain, the current conference chair seeking to retain her seat, and Indiana Rep. Erin Houchin. The vote among House Republicans is scheduled for Tuesday.
Steube, who was easily re-elected last week to his Florida 17th Congressional District seat representing Sarasota, Charlotte, and parts of Lee County, is positioning himself as a change candidate. In his written statement announcing his bid, he described himself as a “genuine conservative option and a fresh approach to leadership.”
His argument is straightforward: Republican voters didn’t abandon the party because it went too far to the right — they tuned out because the party didn’t govern the way it promised.
“I am tired of watching Washington conventional wisdom dictate our policies. We should not be afraid to govern conservatively or challenge our own leadership when it loses sight of the commitments we made. If we want voters to trust us again, they need to see that electing Republicans actually makes a difference.”
— Rep. Greg Steube, in his campaign statement
Steube sharpened that message even further in the immediate hours after last week’s midterm elections, directing pointed criticism at both Senate and House Republican leadership in a post on X.
“You have been embarrassingly weak and more afraid of governing conservatively than of disappointing the voters who put us in office. Instead of standing firm on our principles, you have governed out of fear, continually knelt to the moderates in our conference (who all got crushed last night anyway), and discarded conservatives like me who warned of last night’s results.”
— Rep. Greg Steube, addressing “Republican Senate and House ‘leadership'” on X
Steube has a long history in public office. He was first elected to the Florida House in 2010, moved to the state Senate in 2016, and won his first congressional seat in 2018.
Rick Scott Steps Back From Senate Leadership Fight
In a separate but related development on the Senate side, Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott told Fox News over the weekend that he will not challenge Senate Minority Leader John Thune for his leadership post.
“I don’t want to run again. I’ve run twice.”
— Sen. Rick Scott, speaking to Fox News
Scott has twice mounted bids for Senate Republican leadership and lost on both occasions — first to Mitch McConnell in 2022 and then to Thune in 2024. His decision to stand down removes one potential challenger from what has been a recurring internal debate over the future direction of Senate Republicans. For more coverage of these and related races, visit The Phoenix Flyer for the latest briefs and updates.
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