The Hill News

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) will look to head House Republicans' campaign efforts again in 2012.

Sessions will opt against challenging Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) for the third-ranking job of majority whip in the new Republican majority, according to a NRCC official.

The Texas Republican will instead look to protect and add to the 60-seat pickup they scored in last week's election by seeking a second term as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).

The move by Sessions eliminates a possible showdown for the No. 3 position in the House Republican leadership, and gives him a chance to pick up more goodwill from GOP colleagues.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) stayed for a second term as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in 2010 after earning seats in 2008, but has said he won't return for a third term in 2012. It's unclear who Sessions's counterpart will be.

Sessions appears to have the backing of Speaker-to-be John Boehner (R-Ohio), who, in a statement to ABC News, backed the Texas Republican's bid for a second term.