# House Republican Conference

The House Republican Conference is the party caucus for Republicans in the United States House of Representatives. It hosts meetings, and is the primary forum for communicating the party's message to members. The conference produces a daily publication of political analysis under the title Legislative Digest.
When the conference holds the majority of seats, it is usually led by the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives who is assisted on the floor by the House majority leader and the party's chief whip. When in the minority, it is led by the House minority leader, assisted by the chief whip. The conference has a chair who directs day-to-day operations and who is assisted by an elected vice chair and a secretary.
In the 118th Congress, the conference is led by Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, assisted by Majority Leader Steve Scalise (also of Louisiana), and Majority Whip Tom Emmer. The current chair is Lisa McClain of Michigan, who assumed the position . Former chairs include Gerald Ford, John Boehner, Mike Pence, John B. Anderson, Dick Cheney, Jack Kemp, J. C. Watts, Deborah D. Pryce, Adam Putnam, Jeb Hensarling, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Liz Cheney, Kevin McCarthy and Elise Stefanik. As a result of the 2024 elections, the party holds a narrow majority in the House of Representatives in the 119th Congress.

## Current hierarchy

As of January 3, 2024, the conference leadership has been as follows:
* Mike Johnson (LA) as Speaker of the House (conference leader)
* Steve Scalise (LA) as House majority leader
* Tom Emmer (MN) as House majority whip
* Lisa McClain (MI) as chair of the House Republican Conference
* Blake Moore (UT) as vice chair of the House Republican Conference
* Erin Houchin (IN) as secretary of the House Republican Conference
* Kevin Hern (OK) as chair of the House Republican Policy Committee
* Richard Hudson (NC) as chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee
* Guy Reschenthaler (PA) as House Republican chief deputy whip

## Leaders of the House Republican Conference

| Congress | Leader | Leader | District | Took office | Left office | House Speaker |
| 36th | | William Pennington (1796–1862) | New Jersey 5 | February 1, 1860 | March 3, 1861 | Himself 1860–1861 |
| 37th | | Galusha A. Grow (1823–1907) | Pennsylvania 14 | July 4, 1861 | March 4, 1863 | Himself 1861–1863 |
| 38th | | Schuyler Colfax (1823–1885) | Indiana 9 | December 7, 1863 | March 3, 1869 | Himself 1863–1869 |
| 39th | | Schuyler Colfax (1823–1885) | Indiana 9 | December 7, 1863 | March 3, 1869 | Himself 1863–1869 |
| 40th | | Schuyler Colfax (1823–1885) | Indiana 9 | December 7, 1863 | March 3, 1869 | Himself 1863–1869 |
| 40th | | Theodore M. Pomeroy (1824–1905) | New York 24 | March 3, 1869 | March 4, 1869 | Himself 1869 |
| 41st | | James G. Blaine (1830–1893) | Maine 3 | March 4, 1869 | March 4, 1875 | Himself 1869–1875 |
| 42nd | | James G. Blaine (1830–1893) | Maine 3 | March 4, 1869 | March 4, 1875 | Himself 1869–1875 |
| 43rd | | James G. Blaine (1830–1893) | Maine 3 | March 4, 1869 | March 4, 1875 | Himself 1869–1875 |
| 44th | | George W. McCrary (1835–1890) | Iowa 1 | March 4, 1875 | March 3, 1877 | Kerr 1875–1876 |
| 44th | | George W. McCrary (1835–1890) | Iowa 1 | March 4, 1875 | March 3, 1877 | Randall 1876–1881 |
| 45th | | Eugene Hale (1836–1918) | Maine 5 | March 4, 1877 | March 4, 1879 | Randall 1876–1881 |
| 46th | | William P. Frye (1830–1911) | Maine 2 | March 4, 1879 | March 3, 1881 | Randall 1876–1881 |
| 47th | | J. Warren Keifer (1836–1932) | Ohio 8 | December 5, 1881 | March 4, 1883 | Himself 1881–1883 |
| 48th | | Joseph Gurney Cannon (1836–1926) | Illinois 15 | March 4, 1883 | March 3, 1889 | Carlisle 1883–1889 |
| 49th | | Joseph Gurney Cannon (1836–1926) | Illinois 15 | March 4, 1883 | March 3, 1889 | Carlisle 1883–1889 |
| 50th | | Joseph Gurney Cannon (1836–1926) | Illinois 15 | March 4, 1883 | March 3, 1889 | Carlisle 1883–1889 |
| 51st | | Thomas Brackett Reed (1839–1902) | Maine 1 | December 4, 1889 | March 3, 1891 | Himself 1889–1891 |
| 52nd | | Thomas J. Henderson (1824–1911) | Illinois 7 | March 4, 1891 | March 3, 1895 | Crisp 1891–1895 |
| 53rd | | Thomas J. Henderson (1824–1911) | Illinois 7 | March 4, 1891 | March 3, 1895 | Crisp 1891–1895 |
| 54th | | Thomas Brackett Reed (1839–1902) | Maine 1 | December 2, 1895 | March 4, 1899 | Himself 1895–1899 |
| 55th | | Thomas Brackett Reed (1839–1902) | Maine 1 | December 2, 1895 | March 4, 1899 | Himself 1895–1899 |
| 56th | | David B. Henderson (1840–1906) | Iowa 3 | December 4, 1899 | March 4, 1903 | Himself 1899–1903 |
| 57th | | David B. Henderson (1840–1906) | Iowa 3 | December 4, 1899 | March 4, 1903 | Himself 1899–1903 |
| 58th | | Joseph Gurney Cannon (1836–1926) | Illinois 18 | November 9, 1903 | March 4, 1911 | Himself 1903–1911 |
| 59th | | Joseph Gurney Cannon (1836–1926) | Illinois 18 | November 9, 1903 | March 4, 1911 | Himself 1903–1911 |
| 60th | | Joseph Gurney Cannon (1836–1926) | Illinois 18 | November 9, 1903 | March 4, 1911 | Himself 1903–1911 |
| 61st | | Joseph Gurney Cannon (1836–1926) | Illinois 18 | November 9, 1903 | March 4, 1911 | Himself 1903–1911 |
| 62nd | | James Robert Mann (1856–1922) | Illinois 2 | March 4, 1911 | March 3, 1919 | Clark 1911–1919 |
| 63rd | | James Robert Mann (1856–1922) | Illinois 2 | March 4, 1911 | March 3, 1919 | Clark 1911–1919 |
| 64th | | James Robert Mann (1856–1922) | Illinois 2 | March 4, 1911 | March 3, 1919 | Clark 1911–1919 |
| 65th | | James Robert Mann (1856–1922) | Illinois 2 | March 4, 1911 | March 3, 1919 | Clark 1911–1919 |
| 66th | | Frederick H. Gillett (1851–1935) | Massachusetts 2 | May 19, 1919 | March 3, 1925 | Himself 1919–1925 |
| 67th | | Frederick H. Gillett (1851–1935) | Massachusetts 2 | May 19, 1919 | March 3, 1925 | Himself 1919–1925 |
| 68th | | Frederick H. Gillett (1851–1935) | Massachusetts 2 | May 19, 1919 | March 3, 1925 | Himself 1919–1925 |
| 69th | | Nicholas Longworth (1869–1931) | Ohio 1 | December 7, 1925 | March 4, 1931 | Himself 1925–1931 |
| 70th | | Nicholas Longworth (1869–1931) | Ohio 1 | December 7, 1925 | March 4, 1931 | Himself 1925–1931 |
| 71st | | Nicholas Longworth (1869–1931) | Ohio 1 | December 7, 1925 | March 4, 1931 | Himself 1925–1931 |
| 72nd | | Bertrand Snell (1870–1958) | New York 31 | March 4, 1931 | January 3, 1939 | Garner 1931–1933 |
| 73rd | | Bertrand Snell (1870–1958) | New York 31 | March 4, 1931 | January 3, 1939 | Rainey 1933–1934 |
| 74th | | Bertrand Snell (1870–1958) | New York 31 | March 4, 1931 | January 3, 1939 | Byrns 1935–1936 |
| 74th | | Bertrand Snell (1870–1958) | New York 31 | March 4, 1931 | January 3, 1939 | Bankhead 1936–1940 |
| 75th | | Bertrand Snell (1870–1958) | New York 31 | March 4, 1931 | January 3, 1939 | Bankhead 1936–1940 |
| 76th | | Joseph W. Martin Jr. (1884–1968) | Massachusetts 14 | January 3, 1939 | January 3, 1959 | Bankhead 1936–1940 |
| 76th | | Joseph W. Martin Jr. (1884–1968) | Massachusetts 14 | January 3, 1939 | January 3, 1959 | Rayburn 1940–1947 |
| 77th | | Joseph W. Martin Jr. (1884–1968) | Massachusetts 14 | January 3, 1939 | January 3, 1959 | Rayburn 1940–1947 |
| 78th | | Joseph W. Martin Jr. (1884–1968) | Massachusetts 14 | January 3, 1939 | January 3, 1959 | Rayburn 1940–1947 |
| 79th | | Joseph W. Martin Jr. (1884–1968) | Massachusetts 14 | January 3, 1939 | January 3, 1959 | Rayburn 1940–1947 |
| 80th | | Joseph W. Martin Jr. (1884–1968) | Massachusetts 14 | January 3, 1939 | January 3, 1959 | Himself 1947–1949 |
| 81st | | Joseph W. Martin Jr. (1884–1968) | Massachusetts 14 | January 3, 1939 | January 3, 1959 | Rayburn 1949–1953 |
| 82nd | | Joseph W. Martin Jr. (1884–1968) | Massachusetts 14 | January 3, 1939 | January 3, 1959 | Rayburn 1949–1953 |
| 83rd | | Joseph W. Martin Jr. (1884–1968) | Massachusetts 14 | January 3, 1939 | January 3, 1959 | Himself 1953–1955 |
| 84th | | Joseph W. Martin Jr. (1884–1968) | Massachusetts 14 | January 3, 1939 | January 3, 1959 | Rayburn 1955–1961 |
| 85th | | Joseph W. Martin Jr. (1884–1968) | Massachusetts 14 | January 3, 1939 | January 3, 1959 | Rayburn 1955–1961 |
| 86th | | Charles A. Halleck (1900–1986) | Indiana 2 | January 3, 1959 | January 3, 1965 | Rayburn 1955–1961 |
| 87th | | Charles A. Halleck (1900–1986) | Indiana 2 | January 3, 1959 | January 3, 1965 | Rayburn 1955–1961 |
| 87th | | Charles A. Halleck (1900–1986) | Indiana 2 | January 3, 1959 | January 3, 1965 | McCormack 1962–1971 |
| 88th | | Charles A. Halleck (1900–1986) | Indiana 2 | January 3, 1959 | January 3, 1965 | McCormack 1962–1971 |
| 89th | | Gerald Ford (1913–2006) | Michigan 5 | January 3, 1965 | December 6, 1973 | McCormack 1962–1971 |
| 90th | | Gerald Ford (1913–2006) | Michigan 5 | January 3, 1965 | December 6, 1973 | McCormack 1962–1971 |
| 91st | | Gerald Ford (1913–2006) | Michigan 5 | January 3, 1965 | December 6, 1973 | McCormack 1962–1971 |
| 92nd | | Gerald Ford (1913–2006) | Michigan 5 | January 3, 1965 | December 6, 1973 | Albert 1971–1977 |
| 93rd | | Gerald Ford (1913–2006) | Michigan 5 | January 3, 1965 | December 6, 1973 | Albert 1971–1977 |
| 93rd | | John Jacob Rhodes (1916–2003) | Arizona 1 | December 7, 1973 | January 3, 1981 | Albert 1971–1977 |
| 94th | | John Jacob Rhodes (1916–2003) | Arizona 1 | December 7, 1973 | January 3, 1981 | Albert 1971–1977 |
| 95th | | John Jacob Rhodes (1916–2003) | Arizona 1 | December 7, 1973 | January 3, 1981 | O'Neill 1977–1987 |
| 96th | | John Jacob Rhodes (1916–2003) | Arizona 1 | December 7, 1973 | January 3, 1981 | O'Neill 1977–1987 |
| 97th | | Robert H. Michel (1923–2017) | Illinois 18 | January 3, 1981 | January 3, 1995 | O'Neill 1977–1987 |
| 98th | | Robert H. Michel (1923–2017) | Illinois 18 | January 3, 1981 | January 3, 1995 | O'Neill 1977–1987 |
| 99th | | Robert H. Michel (1923–2017) | Illinois 18 | January 3, 1981 | January 3, 1995 | O'Neill 1977–1987 |
| 100th | | Robert H. Michel (1923–2017) | Illinois 18 | January 3, 1981 | January 3, 1995 | Wright 1987–1989 |
| 101st | | Robert H. Michel (1923–2017) | Illinois 18 | January 3, 1981 | January 3, 1995 | Wright 1987–1989 |
| 101st | | Robert H. Michel (1923–2017) | Illinois 18 | January 3, 1981 | January 3, 1995 | Foley 1989–1995 |
| 102nd | | Robert H. Michel (1923–2017) | Illinois 18 | January 3, 1981 | January 3, 1995 | Foley 1989–1995 |
| 103rd | | Robert H. Michel (1923–2017) | Illinois 18 | January 3, 1981 | January 3, 1995 | Foley 1989–1995 |
| 104th | | Newt Gingrich (born 1943) | Georgia 6 | January 3, 1995 | January 3, 1999 | Himself 1995–1999 |
| 105th | | Newt Gingrich (born 1943) | Georgia 6 | January 3, 1995 | January 3, 1999 | Himself 1995–1999 |
| 106th | | Dennis Hastert (born 1942) | Illinois 14 | January 6, 1999 | January 3, 2007 | Himself 1999–2007 |
| 107th | | Dennis Hastert (born 1942) | Illinois 14 | January 6, 1999 | January 3, 2007 | Himself 1999–2007 |
| 108th | | Dennis Hastert (born 1942) | Illinois 14 | January 6, 1999 | January 3, 2007 | Himself 1999–2007 |
| 109th | | Dennis Hastert (born 1942) | Illinois 14 | January 6, 1999 | January 3, 2007 | Himself 1999–2007 |
| 110th | | John Boehner (born 1949) | Ohio 8 | January 3, 2007 | October 29, 2015 | Pelosi 2007–2011 |
| 111th | | John Boehner (born 1949) | Ohio 8 | January 3, 2007 | October 29, 2015 | Pelosi 2007–2011 |
| 112th | | John Boehner (born 1949) | Ohio 8 | January 3, 2007 | October 29, 2015 | Himself 2011–2015 |
| 113th | | John Boehner (born 1949) | Ohio 8 | January 3, 2007 | October 29, 2015 | Himself 2011–2015 |
| 114th | | John Boehner (born 1949) | Ohio 8 | January 3, 2007 | October 29, 2015 | Himself 2011–2015 |
| 114th | | Paul Ryan (born 1970) | Wisconsin 1 | October 29, 2015 | January 3, 2019 | Himself 2015–2019 |
| 115th | | Paul Ryan (born 1970) | Wisconsin 1 | October 29, 2015 | January 3, 2019 | Himself 2015–2019 |
| 116th | | Kevin McCarthy (born 1965) | California 23 | January 3, 2019 | October 3, 2023 | Pelosi 2019–2023 |
| 117th | | Kevin McCarthy (born 1965) | California 23 | January 3, 2019 | October 3, 2023 | Pelosi 2019–2023 |
| 118th | | Kevin McCarthy (born 1965) | California 20 | January 3, 2019 | October 3, 2023 | Himself 2023 |
| 118th | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | October 3, 2023 | October 25, 2023 | McHenry 2023 |
| 118th | | Mike Johnson (born 1972) | Louisiana 4 | October 25, 2023 | Incumbent | Himself 2023–present |
| 119th | | Mike Johnson (born 1972) | Louisiana 4 | October 25, 2023 | Incumbent | Himself 2023–present |