Update: R’s Pick McCarthy Over Raul
House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of Calif., the strong favorite to replace House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va., arrives with his GOP House allies for leadership elections, earlier today on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
House Republicans will shuffle their leadership lineup Thursday, most likely promoting Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy to become the second-highest ranking Republican in a rare midsession party election necessitated by Majority Leader Eric Cantor's stunning defeat in a June 10 Virginia primary. The California Republican, 49, has built a reputation as a gregarious and politically savvy pol despite some failings in the more confrontational whip role, which is tasked with counting and securing votes in a divided GOP conference to pass legislation. The majority leader is responsibility for coordinating the legislative agenda with committee chairmen and managing the U.S. House schedule. McCarthy quickly locked up support — including Cantor's public endorsement — and he faces only token opposition from Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, a Tea Party-aligned lawmaker/Susan Davis, USA Today. More here.
Question: Will Labrador be strengthened/weakened by his race for Majority Leader, if he loses big?
