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Republican chief whip Kevin McCarthy on course to replace Eric Cantor Republican chief whip Kevin McCarthy on course to replace Eric Cantor
(about 14 hours later)
The chief whip in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, appeared increasingly confident about his promotion to majority leader on Thursday as the race to replace Eric Cantor entered a critical phase. The chief whip in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, appeared increasingly confident about his promotion to majority leader on Thursday as a succession of candidates withdrew from the race to replace Eric Cantor.
Cantor, who on Tuesday became the first House majority leader in history to lose a primary election, is stepping down from his post at the end of next month, sparking an immediate power grab for the second-most important job in the House.Cantor, who on Tuesday became the first House majority leader in history to lose a primary election, is stepping down from his post at the end of next month, sparking an immediate power grab for the second-most important job in the House.
McCarthy, the preferred candidate of the party's establishment, received a major boost on Thursday when two potential rivals announced they were bowing out. McCarthy, the preferred candidate of the party's establishment, received a major boost on Thursday when several potential rivals announced they were bowing out.
But he is facing a backlash from rightwingers seeking to build on Cantor’s stunning defeat this week, and resistance from southern, red-state Republicans, who resent the fact they have no foothold in the upper ranks of the party. But he remains disliked by rightwingers seeking to build on Cantor’s stunning defeat this week, and his candidacy faces resistance from southern, red-state Republicans who resent the fact they have no foothold in the upper ranks of the party.
Jeb Hensarling, a Texan who chairs the House financial services committee, and the Congressman some considered the greatest threat to McCarthy from the right, said in a statement to reporters: "This is not the right office at the right time for me and my family". Their efforts, though, suffered a series of setbacks on Thursday night. Jeb Hensarling, a Texan who chairs the House financial services committee, and the Congressman some considered the greatest threat to McCarthy from the right, said in a statement to reporters: "This is not the right office at the right time for me and my family".
He added that he was "humbled by the calls, emails and conversations" he had had with fellow Republicans since Cantor's defeat made the majority leader position available.He added that he was "humbled by the calls, emails and conversations" he had had with fellow Republicans since Cantor's defeat made the majority leader position available.
Hensarling's announcement was a blow to conservatives, who had been urging him to challenge McCarthy, in what they hoped would shape up to be a dramatic contest between hardliners and the party establishment. Hensarling's announcement was a blow to conservatives, who had been urging him to challenge McCarthy in what they hoped would shape up to be a dramatic contest between hardliners and the party establishment.
But Hensarling was slow out of the blocks, and under pressure from other southern Republicans to make way for another Texan: Pete Sessions, chair of the House rules committee. Hensarling had been slow out of the blocks and his withdrawal cleared the way for a challenge by another Texan: Pete Sessions, chair of the House rules committee.
“Jeb is out; I’m running for majority leader,” Sessions told The Washington Post after a closed-door meeting with about 40 conservative Republicans, mostly from Southern states. Sessions initially told the Washington Post he would stand for the position but on Thursday night he pulled out, saying in remarks reported by the Reuters news agency that to continue running "would have created unnecessary
and painful division within our party".
Sessions's statement came after several lawmakers told reporters they
thought McCarthy had the edge.
Tom Price, a conservative from Georgia, who some expected might mount a long-shot run for the majority leader role, also announced he would not stand.Tom Price, a conservative from Georgia, who some expected might mount a long-shot run for the majority leader role, also announced he would not stand.
That left the door open to Sessions, a long-time rival to McCarthy, to bid for the support from conservatives in the caucus. Sessions had emphasised his opposition to immigration reform, which Cantor, McCarthy and the House speaker, John Boehner, have been publicly flirting with, much to the annoyance of rightwingers in their party.
Since making his intention to run clear, Sessions had emphasised his opposition to immigration reform, which Cantor, McCarthy and the House speaker, John Boehner, have been publicly flirting with, much to the annoyance of rightwingers in their party.
Boehner refused to get drawn into the contest, insisting in a Thursday press conference that he could "work with whoever" becomes majority leader. "This is a time for unity," he told reporters.Boehner refused to get drawn into the contest, insisting in a Thursday press conference that he could "work with whoever" becomes majority leader. "This is a time for unity," he told reporters.
Boehner has opted for a swift ballot, to try to limit the impact of the in-fighting now gripping the party. "I'm sure some will argue it was too soon, some will argue it was too long, but it's important that we resolve this issue in a fair amount of time so we can do the work we were elected to do," he said.Boehner has opted for a swift ballot, to try to limit the impact of the in-fighting now gripping the party. "I'm sure some will argue it was too soon, some will argue it was too long, but it's important that we resolve this issue in a fair amount of time so we can do the work we were elected to do," he said.
The majority leader election will be decided in a secret ballot of Republican members on Thursday next week. The majority leader election is set down to be decided in a secret ballot of Republican members on Thursday next week.
The fact the election is secret could be an advantage for McCarthy, because Washington-based conservative groups, which carefully monitor how Republicans vote and threaten to punish them if they are too moderate, will be left in the dark.The fact the election is secret could be an advantage for McCarthy, because Washington-based conservative groups, which carefully monitor how Republicans vote and threaten to punish them if they are too moderate, will be left in the dark.
As chief whip, McCarthy has had the job of pulling together enough votes to pass legislation favored by the Republican leadership. As a result, he has the benefit of an extensive network of Republican surrogates he is now drawing on to drum up support for his run. A Republican source on Capitol Hill said that McCarthy was claiming he already had the votes to secure victory. As chief whip, McCarthy has had the job of pulling together enough votes to pass legislation favored by the Republican leadership. As a result, he has the benefit of an extensive network of Republican surrogates he is now drawing on to drum up support for his run. A Republican source on Capitol Hill said McCarthy was claiming he already had the votes to secure victory.
On Thursday, McCarthy was also buoyed by the support of Wisconsin's Paul Ryan, a key player in the Republican conference who is close to Hensarling. On Thursday McCarthy was buoyed by the support of Wisconsin's Paul Ryan, a key player in the Republican conference who is close to Hensarling.
If McCarthy wins, his current job, the third most powerful in the House, will be up for grabs. The jockeying for that position is already well under way, and it may end up being where the real competition is.If McCarthy wins, his current job, the third most powerful in the House, will be up for grabs. The jockeying for that position is already well under way, and it may end up being where the real competition is.
In that race, Peter Roskam, from Illinois, from the party's mainstream, faces a stiff challenge from Steve Scalise, a Louisiana member known as a staunch Republican.In that race, Peter Roskam, from Illinois, from the party's mainstream, faces a stiff challenge from Steve Scalise, a Louisiana member known as a staunch Republican.
A moderate GOP member from Indiana, Marlin Stutzman, told a news outlet in his district that he was also entering the chief whip race, saying Republicans in the House needed a “red-state conservative and a fresh face".A moderate GOP member from Indiana, Marlin Stutzman, told a news outlet in his district that he was also entering the chief whip race, saying Republicans in the House needed a “red-state conservative and a fresh face".
“I’m just getting started,” Stutzman said. “I was up really late last night making calls. There will be a lot happening in the next few days.”“I’m just getting started,” Stutzman said. “I was up really late last night making calls. There will be a lot happening in the next few days.”
The battle for chief whip may be where the real competition lies.The battle for chief whip may be where the real competition lies.
If Scalise, who chairs the Republican Study Committee, becomes the party's chief whip in the House, conservatives will have extended their reach to a significant lever of power in the party.If Scalise, who chairs the Republican Study Committee, becomes the party's chief whip in the House, conservatives will have extended their reach to a significant lever of power in the party.
Although he is not universally liked by Tea Party members, Scalise may still be their consolation prize if, as seems increasingly likely, McCarthy becomes the majority leader.Although he is not universally liked by Tea Party members, Scalise may still be their consolation prize if, as seems increasingly likely, McCarthy becomes the majority leader.
Early afternoon on Thursday, all the prominent candidates were present on the House floor, when a vote was called. Early on Thursday afternoon all the prominent candidates were present on the House floor when a vote was called.
It presented one of the few moments when the entire caucus is in a single room, and the last chance for candidates and their surrogates to glad-hand before members return to their district for the weekend. It presented one of the few moments when the entire caucus is in a single room and the last chance for candidates and their surrogates to glad-hand before members return to their district for the weekend.
McCarthy looked relaxed, whispering in the ear of Idaho's Raúl Labrador, a prominent GOP member and sceptic of immigration reform. Less than six feet away, Sessions was squeezing the arms and patting the backs of other Republicans.McCarthy looked relaxed, whispering in the ear of Idaho's Raúl Labrador, a prominent GOP member and sceptic of immigration reform. Less than six feet away, Sessions was squeezing the arms and patting the backs of other Republicans.
Stood between the two candidates was Price, who after deciding not to run himself is now considered by some GOP sources a potential kingmaker in the race. He had his arms crossed, declining to look either way. Stood between the two candidates was Price, who after deciding not to run himself was being regarded by some GOP sources a potential kingmaker in the race. He had his arms crossed, declining to look either way.