Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was elected to lead the House Republicans Wednesday with a 159-43 vote, CNN reports. McCarthy will lead the party when current Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) leaves his post in January. McCarthy was long considered the favorite to become the party leader as the current second most powerful House Republican, especially after Ryan endorsed him as his successor earlier this year. McCarthy will serve as the minority leader once the newly elected members of Congress are officially sworn in. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) also ran for the spot as a “long-shot challenger,” but is now reportedly vying for top spots on certain key House committees. Trump and McCarthy have reportedly had conversations about Republican leadership in those committees, with the president backing Jordan and Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC).
