The Republican Party has nominated Kevin McCarthy as a contender for Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, a lower chamber that is expected to pass into Republican hands after the midterm elections held a week ago.
McCarthy, current leader of the Republican minority in the House of Representatives, has prevailed over the option of Andy Biggs, an option defended by the most ultra-right-wing faction of the party, as reported by the U.S. network CNN.
Although the final results have not yet been confirmed, it is very likely that the Democrats will lose control of the lower house of the United States after some votes in which, although the Republican Party seems to have achieved more satisfactory results, they allow the Democratic Party to draw good conclusions.
According to sources close to the Republicans consulted by the aforementioned television network, the vote has resulted in 188 votes in favor and 31 against, well above the simple majority needed to nominate a new candidate to preside the House of Representatives.
Although the Republicans are expected to regain control of the House despite the fact that the midterm results were not as expected, the real test for McCarthy will be to get the majority vote in January to preside the House, which means that he could give in to the claims of disgruntled Republicans.
McCarthy is joined by Steve Scalise as the new Republican majority leader in the House of Representatives, leaving vacant the ‘number 3’ position, the party’s disciplinarian, which goes to Minnesota Representative Tom Emmer, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
