Updated: Nov. 14, 2024, at 5:26 p.m. 

U.S. House of Representatives Republicans selected GW alum Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN) to serve as conference secretary under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration Wednesday night.

Houchin defeated Mark Alford (R-MO) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) in the bid for Republican conference secretary following her Nov. 5 reelection to represent Indiana’s ninth district. In an X post announcing her victory, Houchin said she is “ready to work” for the American people and assume her responsibility keeping minutes of private caucus meetings where Republican leaders convene to elect floor leaders, make committee assignments and set legislative agendas.

“Republicans have a winning team—starting with President Trump, @SpeakerJohnson, and the rest of House leadership,” Houchin said in a Wednesday night X post.

Houchin earned her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and her master’s in political management from GW in 2012. Two years later, she won the seat for Indiana Senate’s 47th district, where she served for eight years.

The Graduate School of Political Management awarded Houchin with the Alumni Achievement Award in 2023 for her “passion for political management” throughout her career.

Houchin withdrew from the race for Republican conference chair Tuesday night to announce she would instead be seeking election for the Republican conference secretary position. She also announced her endorsement of Lisa McClain (R-MI) for Republican conference chair in the same X post.

In her bid for reelection to Indiana’s ninth district, Houchin ran on issues like securing the southern U.S border, sending arms to Israel and anti-abortion measures.

This post has been updated to correct the following: 

The Hatchet incorrectly referred to the Graduate School of Political Management as the Graduate School of Public Management. We regret this error.