Rising GOP star Patrick McHenry tasked with corralling Republicans while Steve Scalise recovers


With House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) in the hospital recovering from a bullet wound, it could now fall on Chief Deputy Whip Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) to corral a deeply divided party on the Senate's ObamaCare replacement and the 2018 budget. "The partnership between Rep. Scalise and Rep. McHenry has always been an important part of this whip operation, and that will continue to be the case," explained Scalise's spokesman to Politico. "McHenry is a very capable chief deputy whip, and as he steps up in coming weeks, the other members of our whip team will also keep up their great work and our staff will continue working hard as well."
Scalise's condition has improved from "critical" to "serious" after he was shot during practice for the Congressional Baseball Game last week. Politico adds that "though he only fully regained consciousness on Saturday, according to hospital updates, Scalise already expressed a desire to be conferenced in for leadership meetings as soon as possible, according to one source."
McHenry is a young 41, and Politico points out that being passed the reins at such a crucial moment for the party could prove he's "leadership material down the road."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"The whip team will remain strong and continue to do what Steve set us out to do, and we'll be ready for when he returns," said McHenry, who is also a close personal friend of Scalise's. "He's going to be missed, but he's set a standard for what's expected and we know what we need to do to get the job done."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
5 inexcusably hilarious cartoons about Ghislaine Maxwell angling for a pardon
Cartoons Artists take on the circle of life, Ghislaine's Island, and more
-
Ozzy Osbourne obituary: heavy metal wildman and lovable reality TV dad
In the Spotlight For Osbourne, metal was 'not the music of hell but rather the music of Earth, not a fantasy but a survival guide'
-
Sudoku medium: August 2, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Trump revives K-12 Presidential Fitness Test
Speed Read The Obama administration phased the test out in 2012, replacing it with a program focused on overall health rather than standardized benchmarks
-
El Salvador scraps term limits, boosting Nayib Bukele
Speed Read New constitutional changes will allow presidents to seek reelection an indefinite number of times
-
Trump assigns tariffs, delays all except on Canada
Speed Read A 35% tariff on many Canadian goods has gone into effect
-
Harris rules out run for California governor
Speed Read The 2024 Democratic presidential nominee ended months of speculation about her plans for the contest
-
Trump sets new tariff rates as deadline nears
Speed Read New tariff rates for South Korea, Brazil and India announced
-
Ghislaine Maxwell: angling for a Trump pardon
Talking Point Convicted sex trafficker's testimony could shed new light on president's links to Jeffrey Epstein
-
Senate confirms Trump loyalist Bove to top court
Speed Read The president's former criminal defense lawyer was narrowly approved to earn a lifetime seat
-
Ghislaine Maxwell offers testimony for immunity
Speed Read The convicted sex trafficker offered to testify to Congress about her relationship with late boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein