Will new GOP conference chair Elise Stefanik unite or divide a fractured party?

JIMMIE JOHNSON: SHE’S A RISING STAR IN THE GOP AND NOW THE NEW REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE CHAIR. 

IF THERE’S JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY, IT’S ELISE STEFANIK.

CONGRESSWOMAN ELISE STEFANIK REPLACED REPRESENTATIVE LIZ CHENEY AS HEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE AFTER CHENEY SPOKE OUT AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. 

LIZ CHENEY: REMAINING SILENT AND IGNORING THE LIE, EMBOLDENS THE LIAR. I WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THAT. I WILL NOT SIT BACK AND WATCH IN SILENCE WHILE OTHERS LEAD OUR PARTY DOWN A PATH THAT ABANDONS THE RULE OF LAW.

JIMMIE: TWO DAYS LATER, HOUSE REPUBLICANS VOTED TO REMOVE CHENEY FROM HER LEADERSHIP  POSITION. 

SO NOW, THE GOP IS MOVING FORWARD WITH A YOUNGER AND LESS CONSERVATIVE POLITICIAN IN STEFANIK. 

THE 36-YEAR-OLD CONGRESSWOMAN IS FROM NEW YORK AND IS CONSIDERED A MODERATE.  

REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY: WE JUST HAD AN ELECTION FOR OUR CONFERENCE CHAIR. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ELISE STEFANIK AND WELCOME HER TO THE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE. 

JIMMIE: STEFANIK THANKED THE FORMER PRESIDENT FOR  HER ACCENT TO THE TOP OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY  AND TWEETED SHE LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM. 

THIS BEGS THE QUESTION: WILL SHE UNITE OR FURTHER DIVIDE THE PARTY?

SHE SAYS THE FORMER.

ELISE STEFANIK: I HAVE PRIORITIZED LISTENING TO ALL MEMBERS OF OUR REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE CHAIR AND MY FOCUS IS ON UNITY BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THAT’S WHAT OUR VOTERS DERSERVE.

JIMMIE: BUT OTHERS SEE STEFANIK AS CARRYING ON POLICY POSITIONS SUPPORTED BY TRUMP.

ERIC LEVINE: WHAT SHE HAS THAT LIZ CHENEY DOESN’T HAVE, SHE HAS CHOSEN TO THROW IN HER LOT WITH DONALD TRUMP. 

JIMMIE: CONGRESSWOMAN ELISE STEFANIK, NOW THE THIRD-RANKING REPUBLICAN IN THE HOUSE. 

JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW.