Stefanik seeks to take GOP conference chair position with vote as early as Friday

With several key endorsements lined up, New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik is seeking to win the GOP conference chair position ahead of the vote that's expected to take place on Friday.

The GOP conference voted earlier this week to remove Wyoming Republican Rep. Liz Cheney as conference chair. 

Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, is going to mount a challenge to Stefanik during the GOP conference meeting that's scheduled to begin on Friday at 9 a.m. 

Former President Trump and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy have endorsed Stefanik for the position. Trump released a statement critical of Roy on Thursday. 

Some Republican lawmakers said Cheney was a distraction and argued that the caucus should be focused on the midterm elections and countering the Democrats' agenda.

"She has repeatedly found herself in the minority of her conference on key issues and served as a distraction, rather than a unifying figure in our leadership," Maryland Rep. Andy Harris said.

Republican Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher said in a statement that House Democrats "under Speaker Pelosi have been ruthless in advancing their radical progressive agenda, and Rep. Cheney can no longer unify the House Republican conference in opposition to that agenda. We need to take back the House in 2022 and permanently retire Pelosi."