Contenders to lead House’s largest conservative caucus want to elevate its influence

A hunger to be more aggressive and authoritative in the biggest policy fights in Congress is defining the race to lead the Republican Study Committee (RSC), the largest conservative caucus in the House.

Reps. Ben Cline (R-Va.), 52, and August Pfluger (R-Texas), 46, are seeking the chairmanship for the group in the next Congress — a position that has historically served as a launching pad for Republicans into higher positions.

In interviews with The Hill, and in pitch...