(CNSNews.com) - Rep. Elise Stefanik, who House Republican leaders are now promoting to replace Rep. Liz Cheney as chair of the House Republican Conference, boasted on “CBS This Morning” in 2018 that she was among the 10 percent of House members who were most bipartisan in their voting.
“I’m in the top 10 percent of the most bipartisan members of Congress,” Stefanik said in response to a question from host Gayle King.
Stefanik then stated that women in Congress are more bipartisan then men.
“It’s great to see women running on both sides of the aisle. We’re more bipartisan,” she said.
“If you look at our voting records and the bills that we introduce, women tend to be more bipartisan than our male colleagues,” she said.
At that time, Stefanik was the recruitment chair for the National Republican Congressional Committee. In that role, she was responsible for recruiting candidates to run for the House.
She told CBS in 2018 that she thought the Republicans needed to recruit what she called “non-traditional candidates.”
“So, this job as chair of recruitment, I am the first woman to hold this position, and it was a job that I sought out,” Stefanik said. “I think we need to encourage non-traditional candidates to run for office, which is why I focus specifically on recruiting women, on recruiting Hispanic candidates, on recruiting African Americans.
“In my experience, I was not recruited to run for Congress, so I understand that we needed to think more broadly,” said Stefanik. “And I also think that non-traditional candidates in this political climate are the most effective members of Congress and the most effective candidates, particularly in swing districts. So, this is a positive news story. “It’s great to see women running on both sides of the aisle. We’re more bipartisan,” said Stefanik. “And we need to increase our numbers in Congress to be more reflective of the population at-large.”
King then asked Stefanik: “Women are more bipartisan, you say?”
“Absolutely,” said Stefanik.
“So, I’m in the top 10 percent of the most bipartisan members of Congress,” she said. “That’s something I’m proud of. That’s something that I ran on. And if you look at our voting records and the bills that we introduce, women tend to be more bipartisan than our male colleagues.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R.-Calif.), House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R.-La.), and former President Donald Trump are all supporting Stefanik to replace Rep. Liz Cheney as chair of the House Republican Conference.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R.-N.Y.): “So, this job as chair of recruitment, I am the first woman to hold this position, and it was a job that I sought out. I think we need to encourage non-traditional candidates to run for office, which is why I focus specifically on recruiting women, on recruiting Hispanic candidates, on recruiting African Americans.
“In my experience, I was not recruited to run for Congress, so I understand that we needed to think more broadly. And I also think that non-traditional candidates in this political climate are the most effective members of Congress and the most effective candidates, particularly in swing districts. So, this is a positive news story.
“It’s great to see women running on both sides of the aisle. We’re more bipartisan. And we need to increase our numbers in Congress to be more reflective of the population at-large.”
Gayle King: “Women are more bipartisan, you say?
Stefanik: “Absolutely. So, I’m in the top 10 percent of the most bipartisan members of Congress. That’s something I’m proud of. That’s something that I ran on. And if you look at our voting records and the bills that we introduce, women tend to be more bipartisan than our male colleagues.”