U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., was unsuccessful in his bid to become the fourth most powerful Republican in the House.
Pearce was seeking the position of vice-chair of the Republican Conference. During a vote of Republican House members today he received 63 votes, but Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, received 134.
“During the last week, I have urged my Republican colleagues to take a hard, critical look at our vision and our message,” Pearce said in a news release. “While I was not elected Republican Conference vice-chair, I believe I succeeded in achieving this more important goal.”
Pearce said Republicans, in the next two years, “must function as a vital, vigorous and effective minority – working in a bipartisan spirit to achieve the goals which reflect the values of our constituents while continuing to stand firm in our principals.”
He also said he was “honored and humbled” by the support he received.
“Representatives from small states always begin with a structural disadvantage, and I was blessed by the opportunity to represent
Some have speculated in recent days that Pearce’s attempt to seize more power was part of an effort to strengthen his base in preparation for a Senate primary against Rep. Heather Wilson when Pete Domenici retires. If that’s the case, Pearce apparently has more work to do.