Thread: McCarthy selected as new House majority leader

California Rep. Kevin McCarthy selected as new House majority leader

Published June 19, 2014 FoxNews.com

House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of Calif., arrives for GOP leadership elections, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 19, 2014.AP


WASHINGTON – In a GOP leadership shuffle, Republican lawmakers voted Thursday for California Rep. Kevin McCarthy to succeed Rep. Eric Cantor as House majority leader after Cantor's unexpected primary defeat last week.

McCarthy, a fourth-term lawmaker who had held the No. 3 GOP position, was elected by secret ballot.

The day's second election, to succeed McCarthy as party whip, remained an unpredictable three-way competition among Reps. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, Peter Roskam of Illinois and Marlin Stutzman of Indiana.

The new leaders will govern for only 12 legislative days between when Cantor officially calls it quits on July 31 and November’s midterm elections.

Congress is off most of August and October.

Tension among Republicans has been brewing even before Cantor’s loss, with unhappy conservatives and Tea Party members jockeying for more say.

McCarthy, who faced Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, was believed to be way ahead going into Thursday’s voting. McCarthy, 49, moved quickly to line up the votes for majority leader following Cantor’s loss in Virginia.

Members voting wrote the name of the candidate they wanted on slips of paper. There are currently 233 members of the House Republican Conference; about 117 votes were needed to win.

A bloc of a few dozen Republicans, mainly rock-ribbed conservatives, likely voted for Labrador as the "alternative" candidate to the "establishment."

Experts say Thursday’s vote is a dress rehearsal for a potential GOP leadership shakeup following November’s midterm elections.

That battle for power could include House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who is up for re-election after the Nov. 4 midterms.

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Republicans elevate Boehner ally to No. 2 House job

BY SUSAN CORNWELL AND EMILY STEPHENSON
WASHINGTON Thu Jun 19, 2014 7:05pm EDT

1 OF 2. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) (R) and newly elected House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) (2nd R) speak to the media on Capitol Hill in Washington June 19, 2014.
CREDIT: REUTERS/JOSHUA ROBERTS

(Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Republicans on Thursday chose an ally of Speaker John Boehner for the No. 2 job in the chamber, a setback for some conservatives hoping to use a leadership election to boost their influence.

Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, already the third-ranking House Republican, was chosen to replace Eric Cantor as majority leader. He will control the House floor and help decide the party's legislative priorities.

Steve Scalise, a Louisiana lawmaker with backing from Southern Republicans, beat out two other lawmakers on Thursday to replace McCarthy as party whip, drumming up votes for bills.

Tea Party Republicans had pushed for one of their own to join the leadership after a little-known professor defeated Cantor in his Virginia primary by accusing the majority leader of not pursuing a conservative enough agenda. Cantor will leave his position at the end of July. The race brought fresh turmoil to the caucus, as Tea Party favorites argued that Boehner and other, business-friendly leaders gave in too easily to Democrats on spending disputes.

Tea Party-aligned Republicans said after the vote that they were disappointed with the outcome of the majority leader race, in which Representative Raul Labrador of Idaho lost to McCarthy.

But they said Scalise could push leaders to hold their ground on key issues for conservatives, such as immigration reform and spending cuts.

He has a conservative reputation and leads the Republican Study Committee, a group that includes about two-thirds of House Republicans. But he also has a good relationship with Boehner.

"We really need him to whip the leadership," said Representative John Fleming, who, like Scalise, is from Louisiana.

McCarthy is seen as having similar political views to Cantor, if a more laid-back leadership style. On Thursday, he emphasized economic issues and the Republican push to repeal President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law.

"America is struggling. It's struggling with a stagnant economy, a failed healthcare law," he said.

TEA PARTY CHALLENGES
McCarthy's deputy, Peter Roskam of Illinois, was one of the lawmakers Scalise defeated to take the No. 3 spot. Representative Marlin Stutzman of Indiana, another Tea Party conservative, had also sought the job. Scalise emphasized his Southern conservative roots to solicit votes from lawmakers who view Boehner's leadership team as too moderate. On Thursday, Scalise's aides held placards that read "Geaux Scalise," a play on Cajun words that is sometimes used by Louisiana sports fans.

Republicans leaving the room told reporters the vibe in the room was not contentious and lawmakers who introduced the various candidates kept their statements positive.

"No sparks flew at all," conservative Representative Steve King of Iowa said after the vote.

Still, Representative Walter Jones of North Carolina said there was frustration among conservatives after Labrador lost, even though he said it was "at least a little bit of a shake-up" to leadership that Scalise won.

The results could embolden Tea Party Republicans to push their own candidates after the November midterm elections, when the party will again select its leaders, including the House speaker. Boehner has said he plans to run again.

"It's important that we have a new look in a new Congress, should we hold the house," Jones said.

Representative Justin Amash of Michigan, a Labrador supporter, told reporters the Tea Party candidate had a strong showing. But he said it would be harder to unseat current leaders after the midterms. "I think this was our best shot to change leadership," he said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0EU2IU20140619