House leadership elections will take place next Thursday, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) announced Wednesday.
“After consulting with our conference, a large majority of our members have made clear they want these elections held next week,” Boehner said in a statement. “With their considerations in mind, the House leadership elections will take place on Thursday, October 8.”
Boehner announced last week that he will be stepping down as Speaker and from his congressional seat at the end of October.
The announcement has set in motion a race to fill his coming vacancy, and there are discussions about other GOP leadership positions as well. For example, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is bidding to replace Boehner as Speaker, which would open his current job.
Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) are among those who’ve expressed interest in replacing McCarthy.
The leadership elections that take place next week will be closed to the public, however the final Speaker’s election will take place on the House floor with the full chamber voting.