U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik has been re-elected by her peers as chair of the House Republican Conference during the GOP's leadership elections Tuesday.

The position makes Stefanik the third most powerful Republican in the House of Representatives. 

"Throughout this process, I have had countless conversations with members-elect and returning members from all corners of our House Republican Conference, and I want to thank each of them for taking the time to share their ideas, concerns, goals, and priorities for the 118th Congress," the northern New York congresswoman said in a statement. "I believe that one of the most important qualities of any leader is commitment and the ability to listen, and I will continue to make these a top priority in this position."

Stefanik had faced a challenge to the position after last week's midterm elections from Rep. Bryon Donalds, of Florida.

Stefanik was elected to the position in May 2021 after Republican lawmakers voted to remove Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney from the conference chair job after she criticized former President Donald Trump and his false claims surrounding the 2020 election and voted for his impeachment following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Stefanik's strong support for former President Donald Trump and her defense of him during his first impeachment hearings helped thrust the New York congresswoman into the national spotlight, and consequently, the GOP leadership in the lower chamber.

She endorsed Trump for a 2024 presidential bid last week.

"As the House Republican Conference Chair, I will continue to work to: keep our message disciplined, unified and on offense every single day, support our agenda, execute an effective rapid response strategy to push back on the biased mainstream media in real-time, elevate all voices of our Conference to highlight the extraordinary background and talents of every Member in order to communicate, legislate, and WIN," she said. "As we saw clearly across my home state of New York, the American people cannot afford Democrats’ reckless spending and want an alternative to Democrats’ failed, Far Left policies. House Republicans have solutions and are ready to prosecute the case against Joe Biden and his failed radical agenda. In the new Republican majority, we will stand up for an economy that’s strong, a nation that’s safe, a future that's built on freedom, and a government that’s accountable to the American people.”

Stefanik cruised to a fifth term last week, defeating Democrat Matt Castelli in New York's 21st Congressional District.

Her re-election as conference chair is a decisive action now that Republicans are on the cusp of taking control of the House of Representatives. As of Tuesday, the GOP remained only one seat away from the 218 required to claim the majority, according to called races by the Associated Press.