Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) lost his bid Wednesday to serve as Republican conference chairman, the fourth highest-ranking post within the House leadership.

Price, an orthopedic surgeon, lost the leadership position to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), who is seen as a rising star within the Republican Party. In her new role, McMorris Rodgers will communicate the message of the GOP both within the caucus and to the public.

“I congratulate Cathy McMorris Rodgers on being elected to serve as our next House Republican Conference chairman,” Price said in an e-mailed statement. “With so many challenges and opportunities facing our nation today, it is critical that Republicans come together to advance positive solutions that empower the American people, not government,” he continued. “I look forward to working with our entire conference in the days and months ahead to help get our nation back on a path to greater prosperity.”

A spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) confirmed that House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Cantor and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) all retained their positions in Wednesday's leadership election. Meanwhile, another Republican aide confirmed that Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.) was elected to serve as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, the position that Price had held.