Mike Rogers set to serve as top House Armed Services Republican

Rep. Mike Rogers (Ala.) was elected Tuesday by the House GOP Steering Committee to serve as the top Republican on the powerful House Armed Services Committee for the 117th Congress.

Rogers, who currently serves as the ranking member on the House Committee on Homeland Security, managed to edge out Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), the ranking member of the House Strategic Forces subcommittee, and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) in the race. 

The full House GOP conference is expected to ratify the Steering Committee’s decision in the coming days.

The Alabama Republican is slated to succeed current ranking member Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), who announced his retirement in September of last year.

The House Armed Services Committee is tasked with crafting the National Defense Authorization Act, and with the razor-thin majority held by Democrats, Republicans can expect to have more sway over crafting key policies as they move into the new Congress. 

The committee has held onto a reputation for being strongly bipartisan even during times of a strong political divide. And with a number of political strategists projecting that Republicans have a strong chance of regaining control of the lower chamber in 2022, Rogers could soon hold the coveted gavel. 

He represents an area with a large military constituency, with his district including portions of Fort Benning,  the Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base and the Anniston Army Depot.  

Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) currently serves as the chairman of the panel. 

Unlike Democrats, under House GOP rules, ranking members and chairmen can serve three terms before they are term-limited out of their position.