Local congressman could lead House of Representatives
Kevin McCarthy speaking at a press conference.
Kevin McCarthy, a congressman from Bakersfield who up until recently represented Paso Robles, could be the next majority leader of the US House of Representatives.
In a short 48 hours, the Republican House Majority Whip went from being an overlooked figure on a hobbled leadership team to the overwhelming front-runner in a race that could make him the fastest riser to the majority leader’s post in congressional history, the Washington Post reports.
By Thursday, McCarthy, 49, appeared to have consolidated ranks in almost every corner of the House GOP caucus and seemed well positioned to win next week’s snap election to succeed Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) — who lost his primary Tuesday — as majority leader, the Post reports.
A win by McCarthy, in just his fourth term, would complete a remarkable transformation for the affable Californian, who just a year ago was dogged by criticism that he wasn’t tough enough to persuade recalcitrant GOP lawmakers to vote with the leadership on critically important issues. He also faced questions about whether his policy chops were substantive enough for the job, the Post reports.
Read the full story in the Washington Post
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