Rep. McMorris Rodgers won’t run for House majority leader

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., will not run for House majority leader.tmpplchld In a statement Monday, McMorris Rodgers said she’ll seek to remain chair of the House Republican Conference, the No. 4 position in the House GOP.tmpplchld As the highest-ranking woman in the House Republican leadership, McMorris Rodgers had been seen as a possible top contender for the majority leader role _ the second-ranking House GOP position _ in the leadership shuffle following House Speaker John Boehner’s announcement last week that he will resign at the end of October.tmpplchld The current majority leader, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is the leading candidate to take the speaker’s gavel.tmpplchld “At this time, I believe the best way for me to work for Eastern Washington is to remain Conference Chair,” McMorris Rodgers said in an emailed statement. “My top priority is to make a difference for the people of Eastern Washington. It’s my home, and every person I represent inspires me. I believe DC can learn a lot from our values, our experience, and our pioneer spirit _ finding solutions and making things happen.”tmpplchld She did not say whether she will back one of the other candidates for majority leader. Politico, the national political website, reported McMorris Rodgers’ decision leaves the majority leader race to two candidates: House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., and House Budget Chair Tom Price, R-Ga.tmpplchld McMorris Rodgers has represented Eastern Washington’s 5th Congressional District since 2005.tmpplchld tmpplchld ___tmpplchld (c)2015 The Seattle Timestmpplchld Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.comtmpplchld Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.tmpplchld