Rep. Pete Sessions Elected Chair Of National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee

November 20, 2008 1:17 p.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - House Republicans on Wednesday elected Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) to succeed Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) as chair of the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee.

Cole, who defeated Sessions two years ago in the same race, withdrew from the contest just before voting began. He leaves after disappointing losses this cycle for both House and Senate Republicans; it will be the first time in 15 years that Democrats have control of Congress and the White House.

House Republicans also re-elected Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) as minority leader and Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) as policy committee chair.

Boehner said in a statement the new GOP House leadership team "have to seize... an unprecedented opportunity to renew our drive for smaller, more accountable government."

The 10-term congressman added that Republicans will rebuild their majority in the House "by winning the issues that Americans care about most.. We demonstrated our ability to do this last summer when we stood with the American people for more American energy and lower gas prices, and won the issue."

"President-elect Obama has expressed a desire to govern from the center. At times, his party will make it difficult for him to do this. When he extends his hand in good faith to put the needs of the country first, Republicans will extend ours in return," he also said. Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) will succeed Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) as the No. 2 Republican in the House. Cantor, who served as deputy minority whip and was reported to have been vetted as Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) running mate, questioned the GOP's relevance in an interview with the Washington Times a day before the vote.

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), who was chair of the Republican Study Committee and one of several Republicans who led the House GOP floor protest on offshore oil drilling during the summer recess, was elected chair of the House Republican Conference. Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL) relinquished the post after he was re-elected earlier this month.

Senate Republicans held their party elections on Tuesday and voted Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to another term as minority leader. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) was elected to the No. 5 post, conference vice chair, while Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) won as Republican Policy Committee chair. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) will succeed Ensign as head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.