McCarthy drops out of house speaker race

October 8, 2015
Kevin McCarthy

Kevin McCarthy

Republican California Congressman Kevin McCarthy has withdrawn from the race to become speaker of the house despite being the leading candidate for the position.

McCarthy made the announcement Thursday shortly before House Republicans were going to vote on their nominee for the next speaker. The vote was then postponed.

Last month, House Speaker John Boehner announced he would resign at the end of October. That left McCarthy, who is the current majority leader, as the leading candidate to fill the role.

But, some conservative House Republicans have opposed McCarthy’s candidacy. The opposition within his party may have prevented McCarthy from winning the speaker election.

“If we are going to unite and be strong, we need a new face to help do that,” McCarthy said Thursday.

McCarthy said he would stay on in his role as majority leader.

McCarthy’s district includes Bakersfield and most of Kern and Tulare counties. Prior to redistricting, he represented much of North San Luis Obispo County.

Last year, McCarthy moved up in rank from house majority whip to majority leader after then-majority leader Eric Cantor lost a Virginia primary election. Cantor lost to a Tea Party candidate in the primary.

McCarthy was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2006. He became one of the quickest politicians ever to achieve the rank of majority leader.

Prior to getting elected to Congress, McCarthy served in the State Assembly from 2002 to 2006. He was California’s Senate minority leader from 2004 to 2006.


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PS: Goggle > Kevin McCarthy Renee Elmers affair .


Wonder who it was from Homeland Security that posted that info? Smells like a hatchet job from here.


What other type of Republican has a chance in the Peoples state of California?


Humm, somebody, whoever does run, gave him ‘the word’…..


He appears on the Sean Hannity show and puts his foot in his mouth about the obvious and potentially serious criminal scandals surrounding Hillary Clinton. Not very bright if you ask me. The GOP deserves better. Just sayin…It’s good that he stepped aside. IMO


Just another example of the Republican’s being a very dysfunctional family. But at least

McCarthy did the ‘graceful’ thing – knowing full-well he would have a very hard time

getting the required votes to succeed Boehner.


I have no idea who will eventually get elected to speaker, but it will not make much

of a difference – the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s got along better than the different factions

within the Republican party.


Democrats (God help us all – Hillary) is eating this in-fighting up and is already ordering

new drapes for the White House.


Is there anyone out there that still thinks the Tea Party doesn’t have power….the Republican Establishment is on the way out!!!!


Very dignified announcement, CCN. (Smirk!)


Turned out that that he thought the capital of the United States was America.


Very surprising news.


But great news…