Today, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) pulled out of the race to be speaker of the House.
McCarthy announced his withdrawal during a meeting in which the House Republican Conference was scheduled to pick its candidate for speaker, reports The Huffington Post. The election for the Republican candidate for the next speaker has also been postponed.
“If we are going to unite to be strong, we need a new face to help do that,” McCarthy said at a press conference Thursday afternoon. McCarthy added that he felt good about the decision and would stay on as majority leader.
In a statement, McCarthy said it had become clear that House Republicans are divided.
“Over the last week it has become clear to me that our Conference is deeply divided and needs to unite behind one leader,” McCarthy said in a statement. “I have always put this Conference ahead of myself. Therefore I am withdrawing my candidacy for Speaker of the House. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to help move our Conference’s agenda and our country forward.”
