Western Caucus sets election to pick new chair

The Congressional Western Caucus will meet Thursday to elect a chair, the group’s current leader said.

The caucus, which works to amplify the Republican agenda on issues like land use and energy, was previously led by Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) until his death Jan. 6.

Now lawmakers will have a chance to pick his successor, said Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), the caucus’ executive vice chair. Maloy is running for the position, she told POLITICO’s E&E News.

“I would love to see it be a policy powerhouse. It’s one of the biggest caucuses in Congress, and it’s focused on a lot of the things that matter to my constituents, to me, and I see the good the Western Caucus does,” she said Wednesday.