Representative David Rasmussen was the House Majority Leader immediately after the 2012 Congressional Election. Soon after the election, Majority Whip Frank Underwood approached Rasmussen with the prospect of a leadership challenge against Speaker Birch. Rasmussen refused but Underwood sought out supporters regardless, claiming that Rasmussen was in fact leading the challenge. Once he had secured the votes of the Black Caucus, led by Terry Womack, Underwood went to Birch to warn him about the leadership challenge. Birch dismissed Rasmussen and Underwood convinced him to appoint Womack as his successor.