Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) Elected as House Majority Leader

Shortly ago, House Republicans voted for Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as the new House majority leader. The four-term Republican lawmaker, who previously served as the majority whip, will take over for Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) when he leaves his post on July 31. McCarthy defeated Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID) in a vote held by private ballot earlier this afternoon. The position was vacated after Cantor’s surprising defeat in his June 10 primary. Elected in 2006, McCarthy has spent most of his career in the leadership. McCarthy is well-known for his affable personality, fruitful fundraising, and strong personal relationships with his fellow lawmakers.

Yet to be announced is the result of the race to replace McCarthy as majority whip; a three-way race to for the No. 3 spot in the conference is headed down to the wire. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), chair of the Republican Study Committee and the de facto leader of the party’s large conservative bloc, is said to be the frontrunner in the race and is looking to win the whip job outright on a single ballot. But Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) also has a strong cadre of “establishment” support that is expected to fuel a close race. Roskam has spoken publicly about his strategy for a second ballot victory. Tea-party backed Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) has also thrown his name in the ring, presenting an alternative for Republicans who may not find Scalise to be “sufficiently conservative.”