Speaker John Boehner John Andrew BoehnerLongtime House parliamentarian to step down Five things we learned from this year's primaries Bad blood between Pelosi, Meadows complicates coronavirus talks MORE (R-Ohio) is postponing House GOP elections for majority leader and whip at the behest of conservatives.

House Republicans had been scheduled to vote behind closed doors Thursday for the two positions, but will now just vote on electing a Speaker to replace Boehner at that time.

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Votes on a new majority leader and whip will not take place until after the full House votes to elect a new Speaker on Oct. 29 — the day before Boehner is to finish up as Speaker.

It's possible those elections won't take place at all.

Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyMcCarthy's Democratic challenger to launch first TV ad highlighting Air Force service as single mother Trump asked Chamber of Commerce to reconsider Democratic endorsements: report The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - White House moves closer to Pelosi on virus relief bill MORE (R-Calif.) is favored to win the Speakership vote, but Rep. Jason Chaffetz Jason ChaffetzThe myth of the conservative bestseller Elijah Cummings, Democratic chairman and powerful Trump critic, dies at 68 House Oversight panel demands DeVos turn over personal email records MORE (R-Utah) insists the leader won't have the 218 votes necessary to win on the floor. Chaffetz on Sunday announced a late bid for the job. Rep. Daniel Webster Daniel Alan WebsterGaetz set to endorse primary opponent of fellow Florida GOP lawmaker Former cop Demings faces progressive pushback in veepstakes Overnight Energy: Biden campaign says he would revoke Keystone XL permit | EPA emails reveal talks between Trump officials, chemical group before 2017 settlement | Tensions emerge on Natural Resources panel over virtual meetings MORE (R-Fla.) is also running.

While the Speaker nominee will only need 124 votes to win the internal GOP conference election, they must secure 218 votes during the House floor vote. It's possible conservatives determined to prevent McCarthy from winning could withhold support at that time.

Twenty-five conservatives voted against Boehner on the floor in January — only three short of the maximum defections McCarthy or any other Speaker nominee could lose.

If McCarthy doesn't win, he'd keep his majority leader job, and Rep. Steve Scalise Stephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseHouse GOP slated to unveil agenda ahead of election House panel details 'serious' concerns around Florida, Georgia, Texas, Wisconsin elections Scalise hit with ethics complaint over doctored Barkan video MORE (R-La.) would stay in his present position as House majority whip.

"This new process will ensure House Republicans have a strong, unified team to lead our conference and focus on the American people’s priorities," Boehner said in a statement explaining the changes.

The change to the leadership election process could hurt Scalise's bid for majority leader against House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price Thomas (Tom) Edmunds PriceConspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention Coronavirus Report: The Hill's Steve Clemons interviews Chris Christie Trump flails as audience dwindles and ratings plummet MORE (R-Ga.) since conservatives will now have more time to possibly field another candidate. Scalise told supporters Sunday evening that he had secured enough votes to win the race.

Some Republicans are also pushing changes to House GOP conference rules. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.) wants all leadership candidates to resign their current posts in order to run for a promotion. Republicans may vote on such a rule change as early as this week.