Today on the Hill: House GOP Set to Hold Leadership Elections for Next Congress

House Republicans are set to hold leadership elections for the next Congress today. GOP lawmakers are expected to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to be Minority Leader for the 116^th Congress, despite a challenge from Freedom Caucus co-founder Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). In hopes of quelling an intraparty feud, reports suggest that President Trump has privately urged Rep. McCarthy to cut a deal with Rep. Jordan, fueling speculation that the conservative Ohio lawmaker may be elevated to the top GOP job on the House Judiciary Committee. The Republican Conference is also expected to elect: (1) Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) as Minority Whip; (2) Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) as Conference Chairwoman; (3) Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) as National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman; (4) Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC) as Conference Vice Chairman; and (5) Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) as Conference Secretary.

Meanwhile, House Democrats are continuing to pad their majority for the next Congress as Democrat Josh Harder has defeated Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA) in California's 10th District. As votes continue to be counted, two additional Republican-held seats —California’s 45^th and 39^th Congressional Districts — also appear in jeopardy for the GOP as Rep. Mimi Walters (R-CA) and Republican Young Kim have seen their respective leads diminish.

On the floor, House lawmakers are scheduled to vote on a bill (H.R. 6666) that authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to grant state and local governments rights-of-way over Federal land within the Gateway National Recreation Area for construction, operation, and maintenance of projects designed to prevent flooding and shoreline erosion. In the Senate, the upper chamber is expected to clear the legislative vehicle (S.140) for Coast Guard reauthorization after striking a deal to address concerns about the potential for water discharged to exacerbate the spread of invasive species.