Rep. Kevin McCarthy gathers support to replace Eric Cantor as House majority leader

WASHINGTON -- California Republican Kevin McCarthy quickly amassed support yesterday to become House majority leader, but his likely ascent shut conservatives out of the chamber's top leadership jobs, leaving them fuming and exposing deep fissures within the GOP.

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 gave them little time to rally around an alternative who better reflects their ideology and the tea party. Votes are scheduled next Thursday for majority leader, the No. 2 job behind Speaker John Boehner, and for majority whip, the No. 3 party post.

But that 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.

Boehner's job does not appear to be in serious jeopardy for now. But some lawmakers noted there was a limit to his security.

"The speaker is speaker in 24-hour increments. Literally 50 guys can call a revolt," said Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, a Boehner ally.

Cantor suffered a stunning defeat to little-known college professor Dave Brat in Tuesday's Virginia Republican primary, a race that underscored the rift within the GOP between pragmatic, establishment conservatives and farther-right contenders pressing for no-compromise ideological stances. Brat cast Cantor's past positive comments on possible immigration changes as amnesty for those here illegally -- a characterization Cantor heatedly rejected -- and turned it into a defining issue in the race.

Cantor is the first House majority leader to lose his seat by being defeated in a party primary election since the post was created in 1899, according to Eric Ostermeier, research associate at the University of Minnesota's Center for the Study of Politics and Governance.

Cantor announced on Wednesday that he would step down as majority leader at the end of July. He endorsed McCarthy, a four-term congressman from Bakersfield, California, as his successor and the House whip moved swiftly to secure the votes.

Texas Rep. Pete Sessions, the chairman of the Rules Committee, said late yesterday that he's dropping his bid for majority leader. Another Texan with stronger bona fides in the conservative ranks, Rep. Jeb Hensarling, who had been the conservatives' best hope, also passed on the race yesterday.