Update: House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) sends along the following message on Lungren, signalling that this will be a battle among gentlemen: "Dan Lungren is a respected member of our conference and a man deeply committed to the principles that have defined our party since the beginning."
Re-elected U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Gold River, has officially announced that he will mount a challenge to displace Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) in the aftermath of two straight election losses for Republicans. The Republicans lost 28 seats last Tuesday and no incumbent Democratic House member was defeated anywhere.
The No. 2 and No. 3 Republican leaders have said they won't run again. But the day after the election, Boehner delivered a letter to all House Republicans stating his case for being re-elected as House Minority Leader. Since then, Republicans who want a new direction have been searching for a candidate to run against him.
Here is Lungren's statement:
"After discussions with several of my colleagues, it has become increasingly clear to me that we must not revert to "business as usual" in the selection of our House Republican Leadership. It is undeniable that the American people are tired of the way congress has conducted its business on their behalf.
"It is unfortunate that perception is reality. The selection of our leadership will reflect the initial reaction of House Republicans to the recent verdict of the American people. It is my belief that it is neither in the interest of our Party or the advancement of our conservative principles to simply affirm the status quo by acclamation in light of what happened on November 4th.
'It is for this reason that a new course must be taken. This Congress, more than any other in the past eight years, is where Republicans need to come together as a party, decide where we are headed and regain our position as stewards of the publics trust."
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