House Republicans will shuffle their leadership lineup Thursday, most likely promoting Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy to become the second-highest ranking Republican in a rare midsession party election necessitated by Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s stunning defeat in a June 10 Virginia primary.
The California Republican, 49, has built a reputation as a gregarious and politically savvy pol despite some failings in the more confrontational whip role, which is tasked with counting and securing votes in a divided GOP conference to pass legislation. The majority leader is responsibility for coordinating the legislative agenda with committee chairmen and managing the U.S. House schedule.
(Read the rest of the story here…)