Democrats, Republicans Position for House Leadership Posts

Larson’s elevation would trigger a competitive race for caucus vice chairman. Potential candidates include Kendrick B. Meek of Florida, Diana DeGette of Colorado and Xavier Becerra of California, who serves as assistant to Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif. Another potential candidate is Rep. Jan Schakowsky , D-Ill., if she opts not to join the competition with Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. , D-Ill., to seek Obama’s Senate seat

Pelosi also will need to appoint a successor to Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who said he would not stay on for a second term.

Van Hollen left open the possibility he might seek another leadership post, which could make him a wild card.

“Look, I’m exploring all my options,” he said.

Potential successors include Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz , Mike Thompson of California and Allyson Y. Schwartz of Pennsylvania.

Any changes in Pelosi’s inner circle were not expected to mean a major shift in policy or strategy heading into the 2010 midterm elections. Emanuel’s departure likely would mean an enlarged role for others, including George Miller , D-Calif., Pelosi’s longtime ally and policy adviser.

“I don’t see where we would miss a single beat,” said Clyburn, who has worked closely with Emanuel for the last two years. The two men patched up differences after Emanuel pondered but decided against a challenge to Clyburn in the race for whip after the 2006 election.

Pelosi had no comment on possible changes in her leadership team. She said she had not talked with Emanuel about his plans, and had not heard whether Phil Schiliro, the Obama campaign’s congressional liaison, would join or head the new White House lobbying team.

“You’ll have to talk with them about their career plans,” Pelosi said.

Schiliro was a former top aide both for House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Henry Waxman of California, and for former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D.

Republican Moves

On the GOP side, Boehner moved quickly in his attempt to fend off potential challengers.

“I’m deeply disappointed by the outcome of Tuesday’s election,” he said in his letter. “It’s time for the losing to stop. And my commitment to you is that it will.”

Democrats, Republicans Position for House Leadership Posts

The first casualty, Putnam, 34, was close to former Speaker J. Dennis Hastert , R-Ill., (1999-2007), and was once regarded as a possible future Speaker. But Putnam faced a changed political landscape after Hastert retired, and would have faced a tough caucus election had he not bowed out.

“I believe it is time to step off the leadership ladder and return my focus to crafting public policy solutions for America’s generational challenges — the very reason I ran for Congress in the first place,” Putnam wrote Tuesday. “With the issues before us today come bipartisan opportunities and partisan differences. My current role obligates me to the latter and too often excludes me from the former. I want to fight the battles worth fighting and lock arms to strengthen our nation whenever possible.”

Texan Jeb Hensarling , outgoing chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, quietly jumped into the race to succeed Putnam, according to GOP aides. Other potential candidates include Jack Kingston of Georgia and Kevin McCarthy of California. A source close to Hensarling said he had begun contacting members to make his interest in the job known and to ask for their guidance and support.

“I wouldn’t rule it out,” Kingston said. “It’s time for new leadership. We need to find our soul. We need new ideas and a recommitment to our conservative roots. Most importantly, we need to be able to communicate.”

Other Republicans sought greater leadership changes.

“If your football team and you have two bad seasons in a row like this, you change the coach,” Jeff Flake , R-Ariz., said. “We ought to change out the whole leadership. You have to show a new face. We’re going to need to change direction.”

The coming battle in the party shapes up as a fight between those like Flake who wanted a return to conservative principles and those like Boehner who wanted strong conservative themes blended with priorities that can appeal to moderates and swing voters.

Flake said he was not interested in any leadership job. He said he had discussed the possibility of challenging Boehner with several senior Republicans, but none was prepared to do so for now. One potential challenger, Mike Pence of Indiana, has said he has no interest in running for a leadership post.

Eric Cantor of Virginia, the chief deputy whip, meanwhile was calling members to gather support for a bid to succeed Minority Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri amid signs that Blunt might not seek another term as the second-ranking House Republican. There had been hints that Cantor might consider a challenge against Boehner in recent weeks.

Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan, chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, faced a competitive race for re-election from a field of potential challengers that also includes Michael C. Burgess of Texas, a longtime proponent of the flat tax.

“The GOP has always been a party of ideas. It’s time we recapture that designation,” Burgess said in a statement.

Jonathan Allen, Molly K. Hooper and Drew Armstrong contributed to this story.