Celeste Maloy Elected to Lead Congressional Western Caucus After LaMalfa’s Death

Overview

• The caucus voted unanimously Thursday to elevate Maloy, who ran unopposed.
• Alaska Rep. Nick Begich was approved as executive vice chair, succeeding Maloy in the role.
• Maloy had been executive vice chair and had been leading the caucus since LaMalfa’s Jan. 6 death, which further tightened the GOP’s slim House majority.
• The caucus includes nearly 100 members, all Republicans, and concentrates on federal lands, water, energy and agriculture affecting rural communities.
• Members frequently try to attach land-management provisions to major legislation, including last year’s unsuccessful attempt to add public-land sale language to a tax package.