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A rift between conservative and mainstream Republicans is already emerging about who should replace Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, as chairman of the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee when he departs Capitol Hill.

Chaffetz, who announced last week he won't run for office in 2018, has not said publicly when he plans to resign. But Republicans believe he will surrender the gavel in the coming weeks, leading supporters of possible replacements to begin maneuvering for the helm of the House's chief investigatory panel.

A bloc of conservatives is advocating for Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to claim the chairmanship. Jordan is an outspoken member of the House Freedom Caucus who has clashed repeatedly with GOP leaders.

Mainstream Republicans are eyeing Rep. Michael R. Turner, R-Ohio, a more moderate voice who is not currently a member of the Oversight panel.

Both are considered interested in the position, Republican sources said. Jordan and Turner, who previously served on the committee, competed for the gavel 2½ years ago when the GOP steering committee, which is made up of a collection of leadership and its allies, instead backed Chaffetz for the post.

Colleagues see a wild card in Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., the former federal prosecutor and chairman of the House Select Committee on Benghazi. Trusted by both leadership and conservatives, Gowdy has the inside track for Chaffetz's position, according to two senior Republican aides. But, the aides said, it is unclear whether Gowdy wants such a controversial post with Donald Trump as president.

The race is expected to move quickly because Chaffetz has indicated he's already looking for private-sector employment and might soon resign outright, prompting leadership to believe he needs to transition out of the powerful committee post for appearance reasons. There's speculation the Utah Republican might leave Congress as early as the end of May or in June.

"I might depart early," Chaffetz told Politico last week. "It's not tomorrow, it's not next week. If it is, it's going to be in the months to come."

The early jockeying underscores the desirability of the high-profile post. But the job is also considered less palatable under a Republican administration. Chaffetz was known for his aggressive investigations of the Obama administration but has not sunk his teeth into possible conflicts of interest surrounding Trump and his business empire.

Requests for comment from Chaffetz, Jordan and Turner were not returned Friday. Gowdy's spokeswoman declined to comment on the record.

A spokeswoman for Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., AshLee Strong, emailed Friday that Ryan has "full confidence in Chairman Chaffetz."

She also pointed to a recent tweet from Ryan saying he was "thankful" to have served with Chaffetz, a "great defender of liberty and limited government."

The decision on who should replace Chaffetz will be made by the House Republican Steering Committee, a body largely controlled by leadership and establishment Republicans.

Jordan would appear to be an underdog based on the leaning of the steering panel, especially since, in the time since he lost out to Chaffetz, he has become even more of an antagonist toward leadership. However, there are some concerns about the fallout if he is again passed over for the gavel.