California’s McCarthy expected to seek speaker position if Republicans keep House majority
WASHINGTON — With news that House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., won’t seek another term in 2018, California Republican Kevin McCarthy is expected to make a bid for the position, assuming Republicans keep their majority.
McCarthy and Republican House Whip Steve Scalise, RLa., have quietly shored up support behind the scenes for months in case Ryan stepped down.
McCarthy’s spokesman did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
In a statement, McCarthy didn’t mention his plans, saying, “There is more work to do this year, and we will do it together as a team.”
Republicans sought to downplay what Ryan’s departure says about their party’s chances of holding the House in 2018 amid rising Democratic enthusiasm.
“He’ll liberate McCarthy and Scalise to go out and campaign like crazy” to keep the majority, and “that’ll be a significant factor in which of them gets picked” to replace Ryan, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said by phone Wednesday.
Regardless of which party ends up with the House majority after the midterm election, if McCarthy and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, hold their leadership positions next year, it would be the first time in history that the House speaker and House minority leader would represent the same state.
Elected to replace his mentor Bill Thomas in Congress in 2006, McCarthy ascended the ranks quickly and has been majority leader since 2014.