Bartlett set to face off against McHugh for top GOP position on Armed Services Committee

U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Frederick) believes that he should become the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, but he is facing competition from a senior committee member.

Rep. John McHugh (R-N.Y.) recently denied heavy speculation that he planned to resign his seat to run for a position in the New York state Senate. He also drafted a letter to colleagues expressing his interest in becoming the ranking member on the Armed Services Committee.

Among those who may seek the position, McHugh is the only one who ranks with Bartlett; both men began serving in 1993.

Last November, Bartlett individually addressed his Republican colleagues on the HASC, and declared his candidacy for the top position.

Three senior members on the committee, Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), the current ranking member, Jim Saxton (R-N.J.), and Terry Everett (R-Ala.) have all announced that they will not seek reelection this fall.

When contacted by PolitickerMD.com, Lisa Wright, Bartlett’s press secretary, would not directly comment on the match-up against McHugh.

“He believes he is the most experienced of the candidates,” Wright said of Bartlett.

Beyond experience, Wright also cited Bartlett’s “strong leadership.”

“No Republican has served longer on HASC than I have,” Bartlett wrote in November. “In my 15 years on the committee, my attendance, deep involvement and dedication to the committee’s work and goal of strengthening America’s Armed Forces are well known, unwavering and unquestioned.”

To boost his case, Bartlett told his colleagues, “More than anything else, both as chairman and ranking member, I have fought for a stronger U.S. military and the industrial base to support it. I am widely recognized for my leadership in the modernization of our Armed Forces.”

“This has been demonstrated by my commitment to a 313-ship Navy,” Bartlett continued. “Acquisition reform is a must if we are to modernize, transform and rebuild. I will lead the committee as its chairman to improve our procurement system.”

Last week, McHugh denied rumors that he would challenge New York state Sen. Darrel Aubertine (D).

“As I have told every person who has bothered to ask me directly, I will be running for my ninth term in the House of Representatives and look forward to continuing to serve the people of northern and central New York,” McHugh said in a prepared statement published Thursday in The Adirondack Daily Enterprise. “I am not now, nor do I intend this year to consider a run for the New York State Senate.”

McHugh currently serves as ranking member on the Military Personnel Subcommittee, while Bartlett serves as ranking member for the subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces.