house republicans Calif. rep is front-runner for majority leader

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

California Republican Kevin McCarthy secured a clear shot to becoming House majority leader Thursday as his sole rival dropped his bid in a leadership fight that exposed deep fissures within the GOP.

Barring an unforeseen challenge, McCarthy is on a glide path to the No. 2 job in the House behind Speaker John Boehner, with elections slated for Thursday. Earlier in the day, backers of the four-term congressman had spoken confidently about his prospects.

Texas Rep. Pete Sessions, in a statement late Thursday, said he had decided to abandon the race after it “became obvious to me that the measures necessary to run a successful campaign would have created unnecessary and painful division within our party.”

Sessions, who serves as chairman of the House Rules Committee, has no plans to seek the No. 3 job of whip, said his spokeswoman, Torrie Miller. Three others are seeking that post.

Within 48 hours of Rep. Eric Cantor’s lightning primary-election downfall, McCarthy and his deputies aggressively rounded up votes with a pitch to Southern Republicans and pointed private conversations on the House floor in a race that occasionally had the markings of a personality-driven contest for class president.

Republicans sought to project an aura of unity but failed to quiet conservative complaints that such quick party elections after Cantor’s defeat gave them little time to rally around an alternative who better reflects the right’s ideology and the emboldened tea party.

The votes Thursday for majority leader and whip may well not be the end of it. Several Republicans asserted that next week’s action won’t quiet ambitious lawmakers or factions in the GOP caucus, and leadership contests after November’s national midterm elections could produce a brand-new lineup.

Despite conservative discontent, Boehner’s job does not appear to be in serious jeopardy. But some lawmakers noted there was a limit to his security.