Mike Lee isn’t backing down.
The Utah senator faces a perilous path to getting the No. 4 job in party leadership that he covets: Majority Leader Mitch McConnell argues that internal party rules dictate that Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming can serve in the job until 2018. And there’s substantial wariness within the caucus about an intraparty feud over future leadership elections, particularly while the GOP is pressing to hang onto its majority.
Lee’s gambit also could disrupt the unity within the party fostered by its stance against the president’s Supreme Court nomination — and further the senator’s reputation as a conservative bomb-thrower.
But Lee is pressing his case, insisting that the position of Republican Policy Committee chairman is wide open for 2017.
“I have no interest running against John Barrasso for this or anyone else. I am interested in running for the open seat Republican Policy chair,” Lee said in an interview on Wednesday afternoon.
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