Orange County congresswoman looking to climb leadership ladder

Congresswoman Mimi Walters is preparing a run for a high-ranking spot in House Republican leadership, the Irvine Republican confirmed on Monday.

The House Republican chair position is not yet vacant, but with Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers reportedly close to being selected to head the Interior Department in the Trump administration, Walters is locking up support for the #4 spot.

Walters lauded McMorris Rodgers’ “tireless” work on behalf of both her constituents and fellow Republicans, confirmed her own intentions to run for the post if and when it becomes available and said she’d already been seeking support.

“I am humbled by the support I have received in preliminary conversations, and I look forward to speaking with all the members of our Conference,” Walters said.

Walters was elected to Congress in 2014 and was quickly picked as freshman representative to House Republican leadership — an honor aided by her generosity to other members during the campaign. At the time, the Orange County Register reported Walters had given 10 percent of her campaign funds to others, which the paper noted as “unusual for a freshman.”

No longer a freshman, Walters was recently elected as the sophomore representative to leadership. 

Prior to Congress, Walters served in the California Legislature from 2004 to 2015. During that time, she formed a close relationship with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, while both were sitting Assembly members.

Walters’ actions were first mentioned in Politico Playbook over the weekend.