JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Rep. Joe Don McGaugh, R-Carrollton, announced his hope to join majority leadership and run for Speaker Pro Tem.
“I’ve always wanted to be in leadership, and I’m halfway through,” he said. “It just felt like it was a good move.”
McGaugh has served in the House for four years and is the current chair of the Civil and Criminal Proceedings Committee. He believes he has several qualifications and leadership abilities that would make him a good fit to help lead the caucus, including his rural upbringing and residence as well as his status as one of only a handful of attorneys in the House. He also cited his agriculture background as a benefit.
“Most people that have worked with me know that I like to work on diverse issues and reach across the aisle on matters,” he said. “It’s going to take a distinct set of skills to be speaker pro tem, and I think I have a lot of those.”
Currently, only Rep. Delus Johnson, the majority whip, has also announced his intention to run for the position. However, it is rumored that Rep. Elijah Haahr will also run for Speaker Pro Tem.
McGaugh gave credit to his colleagues for the work they have done in the House.
“I really don’t think with either three candidates now… that our caucus members can make a wrong choice.
