Try to draft

Republicans try to draft Trey Gowdy for majority leader

By Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer

House conservatives might've found their white knight.

A group of Republican lawmakers is urging South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy to run for House majority leader, a move that could scramble the race for the No. 2 slot in leadership.

At this point, public support is small. New York Rep. Lee Zeldin and Utah Rep. Mia Love have endorsed the former federal prosecutor, while Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz said Gowdy would be "heaven sent" as majority leader.

But senior House GOP aides involved in the race say Gowdy would be a "big problem" for Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), who are also running for the slot. And several members — speaking anonymously to discuss private conversations — say they want Gowdy at the leadership table.

"If there is a race for majority leader, and it becomes something that we can't settle easily, and it becomes something divisive, Trey is someone that I think a lot of folks can rally behind as a sort of fall back position," said Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), a House Freedom Caucus leader who is close with Gowdy. Asked if Gowdy might siphon votes from Scalise and Price, Mulvaney said, "He's not actively running. He's saying, 'Look, if this doesn't work out, come talk to me.' I'm not whipping for him, he doesn't have a campaign team."

House GOP leadership races are conducted by secret ballot, so there's an extra level of intrigue that goes along with these races. Scalise and Price have locked up support, but there's nothing stopping a lawmaker from reversing themselves and abandoning their commitment when it comes times to vote.

Gowdy has raised his profile as chairman of the House's select committee investigating the Benghazi attacks and is well liked in the GOP conference.

The conservative Freedom Caucus spoke Monday night about trying to draft Gowdy into the speaker race, but he's close with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the favorite for the chamber's top spot.

"At this time and this place he would be the best person to unite our party. He's exceptionally well liked, people trust him (and) when it comes to making the case on the floor of the House there is nobody better than Trey Gowdy," Chaffetz said. "I don't know he is planning to stay (in Congress) long-term and that's part of the appeal of Trey Gowdy. Trey Gowdy is unique in his ability to bring the most conservative members together with the most moderate."