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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Kevin McCarthy beats Raul Labrador to become House majority leader | Kevin McCarthy beats Raul Labrador to become House majority leader |
| (2 months later) | |
| The crucial contest for Republican majority leader in the House of Representatives has been won by Kevin McCarthy, after a swift, decisive victory that will reassure a party establishment shaken by the sudden demise of Eric Cantor. | The crucial contest for Republican majority leader in the House of Representatives has been won by Kevin McCarthy, after a swift, decisive victory that will reassure a party establishment shaken by the sudden demise of Eric Cantor. |
| However in a significant victory for southern conservatives in the GOP, a separate election for chief whip was won decisively by a staunch rightwinger from Louisiana, Steve Scalise. | However in a significant victory for southern conservatives in the GOP, a separate election for chief whip was won decisively by a staunch rightwinger from Louisiana, Steve Scalise. |
| Cantor's stunning primary defeat to a virtually unknown Tea Party candidate last week forced him to stand down as majority leader and prompted a frenzied period of jockeying for power in the top ranks of the party. | Cantor's stunning primary defeat to a virtually unknown Tea Party candidate last week forced him to stand down as majority leader and prompted a frenzied period of jockeying for power in the top ranks of the party. |
| The establishment's preferred candidate, moved quickly to control the race, seeing off a number of potential rightwing contenders. | The establishment's preferred candidate, moved quickly to control the race, seeing off a number of potential rightwing contenders. |
| McCarthy, 49, a popular, well-connected Californian, whose rapid ascent through the ranks marks him out as a future GOP star, triumphed over Raul Labrador, a Tea Party-aligned member from Idaho. | McCarthy, 49, a popular, well-connected Californian, whose rapid ascent through the ranks marks him out as a future GOP star, triumphed over Raul Labrador, a Tea Party-aligned member from Idaho. |
| The election for majority leader and majority whip, the second and third ranking jobs in the House, were decided at a closed-door ballot held by House Republicans on Capitol Hill on Thursday. | The election for majority leader and majority whip, the second and third ranking jobs in the House, were decided at a closed-door ballot held by House Republicans on Capitol Hill on Thursday. |
| They were secret ballots, in which three party elders manually counted the ballot papers and then announced the winner to the meeting. The breakdown of votes were not revealed. | They were secret ballots, in which three party elders manually counted the ballot papers and then announced the winner to the meeting. The breakdown of votes were not revealed. |
| In brief remarks after the vote, McCarthy was asked to respond to grassroots Republicans should felt Cantor’s defeat by a Tea Party insurgent should have resulted in a more conservative majority leader – rather than the election of a member from the Democratic state of California. | In brief remarks after the vote, McCarthy was asked to respond to grassroots Republicans should felt Cantor’s defeat by a Tea Party insurgent should have resulted in a more conservative majority leader – rather than the election of a member from the Democratic state of California. |
| “They elected a guy who is a grandson of a cattle-rancher, the son of a firefighter,” McCarthy said. “They elected a guy who has only grown-up with the grassroots.” | “They elected a guy who is a grandson of a cattle-rancher, the son of a firefighter,” McCarthy said. “They elected a guy who has only grown-up with the grassroots.” |
| Scalise was asked if his victory in the whip race was a victory for the Tea Party. He replied: “This is a win for America because were going to be a more united team moving forward.” | |
| However the nature of Scalise’s victory over his main opponent, Peter Roskam, a more moderate figure from Illinois, was stark example of the power still wielded by staunch conservatives in the Republican Party. | |
| As the current deputy chief whip, and the preference of many establishment Republicans, Roskam might have expected a natural promotion to the role being vacated by McCarthy. | As the current deputy chief whip, and the preference of many establishment Republicans, Roskam might have expected a natural promotion to the role being vacated by McCarthy. |
| The race between Scalise and Roskam was complicated by the entry of a third candidate, Marlin Stutzman from Indiana, who many thought would deny the two frontrunners a simple victory. | The race between Scalise and Roskam was complicated by the entry of a third candidate, Marlin Stutzman from Indiana, who many thought would deny the two frontrunners a simple victory. |
| Under the GOP's election rules, the winning candidate needed a clear majority on the first vote from the 233 Republican members of Congress or face a second ballot. | Under the GOP's election rules, the winning candidate needed a clear majority on the first vote from the 233 Republican members of Congress or face a second ballot. |
| Both Scalise and Roskam doubted they had met the 117 pledges of support, leading most observers to expect a second ballot to determine the outcome. However in a surprise result, Scalise surpassed the majority threshold in the first round. | |
| Although not beloved by all in the Tea Party faction, the rapid ascent of Scalise, who is chairman of the right-wing Republican Study Committee, will mollify the elements within the party who believe its leadership is too moderate. | Although not beloved by all in the Tea Party faction, the rapid ascent of Scalise, who is chairman of the right-wing Republican Study Committee, will mollify the elements within the party who believe its leadership is too moderate. |
| He is also the only member of the leadership team from a southern state. McCarthy is from California, while the speaker of the House, John Boehner, is from Ohio. | He is also the only member of the leadership team from a southern state. McCarthy is from California, while the speaker of the House, John Boehner, is from Ohio. |
| The decision to hold the election for majority leader so swiftly after Cantor announced his departure helped McCarthy secure a quick advantage. | The decision to hold the election for majority leader so swiftly after Cantor announced his departure helped McCarthy secure a quick advantage. |
| Two Texan conservatives, Pete Sessions and Jeb Hensarling, briefly flirted with mounting a leadership run in the days after Cantor’s primary defeat, but were unable to secure the broad support required to challenge McCarthy, who has built up a substantial network since ascending to the role of chief whip in 2011. | Two Texan conservatives, Pete Sessions and Jeb Hensarling, briefly flirted with mounting a leadership run in the days after Cantor’s primary defeat, but were unable to secure the broad support required to challenge McCarthy, who has built up a substantial network since ascending to the role of chief whip in 2011. |
| In the end, McCarthy's only challenger was Labrador, a conservative from Idaho, who struggled to muster anywhere near the support needed to mount a serious challenge. | In the end, McCarthy's only challenger was Labrador, a conservative from Idaho, who struggled to muster anywhere near the support needed to mount a serious challenge. |
| McCarthy’s victory, which had been widely expected, was announced with little fanfare, with a Republican staffer announcing the news to reporters outside the closed door meeting in the Longworth Building. | McCarthy’s victory, which had been widely expected, was announced with little fanfare, with a Republican staffer announcing the news to reporters outside the closed door meeting in the Longworth Building. |
| “The conference has elected Kevin McCarthy from California as the new majority leader,” she said. “Thank you.” | “The conference has elected Kevin McCarthy from California as the new majority leader,” she said. “Thank you.” |
| Cantor will not formally stand down as majority leader until 31 July, and keeps his House seat until the end of the year. | Cantor will not formally stand down as majority leader until 31 July, and keeps his House seat until the end of the year. |