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By Damian Mann Mail Tribune October 31. 2014 2:00AM Unrest from the ranks? Congressman Greg Walden faces potential challenges to his position as the Republicans' campaign chief if he can't secure the 12 wins he promised in the House on Nov. 4. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell U.S. Rep. Greg Walden is expected to deliver Republican victories this election in the House, but some political observers think GOP leaders may be planning to knock him out of his position as campaign chief. “The possibility is there, particularly if they chip away at Rep. John Boehner’s leadership,” said Jim Moore,  a political science professor and director of the Tom McCall Center for Policy Innovation at Pacific University in Forest Grove. Walden, whose district includes Eastern Oregon and Jackson County, early on declared he wanted 12 Republican victories to bring the number of Republicans to 245 out of 435 total representatives in the House. However, Republican leaders think Walden will fall short of this goal. Walden is chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and has touted his “Drive for 245.” “Walden said 12, but he’s not going to get 12,” Moore said. “He set a standard he’s not going to reach.” An article in Politco.com described unrest in the Republican ranks because of the fears there wouldn’t be as significant a win this election and that fundraising efforts didn’t measure up to the Democrats'. The Politco article described potential challenges to Walden from either Rep. Roger Williams of Texas or Rep. Aaron Schock of Illinois. Moore said he finds it interesting that Republicans are focusing their attention on how much money was raised, but he thinks that only became an issue because of how strong Democrats have rallied in the final weeks of the election. He said many Republicans are under the impression they’ve got the same backing they had 20 years ago during the so-called Republican Revolution that saw massive gains in the House and the Senate. At this point, the Republican Party isn’t unified and Boehner’s leadership will continue to be tested, Moore said. “Boehner is trying to placate a severely fractured caucus,” Moore said. Andrew Malcolm, spokesman for Walden, said Walden has been concentrating on the Second District and winning his own seat on Nov. 4. Boehner continues to offer Walden support along with other Republican colleagues, who point to picking up more seats this fall that will solidify their power in the House. “But when you have an organization of over 200 members, like the House Republicans, there’s bound to be some different points of view,” Malcolm said. “Greg respects their position, but he’s working hard on his campaign and to make sure Nancy Pelosi never becomes speaker of the House again.” Malcolm said Walden looks forward to the questions over leadership that will play out after the election. Boehner likely will continue to play a pivotal role in Walden’s future as campaign chair. When Walden steps into the upcoming Congress, he will be the sixth-ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and could become its next chairman.  Reach Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow on Twitter at @reporterdm .   http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141031/NEWS/141039953 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->