House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is all but sure to return in the next Congress as the leader of the Republican caucus in the House of Representatives despite the possibility that the party could lose seats.
According to Politico, McCarthy is shoring up support among key stakeholders in the party along with rank-and-file Republicans in the chamber.
"I see Kevin as safe. I also believe he already has the votes locked up to be reelected leader regardless of the outcome of the election," Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., told Politico. "[Rep. Steve] Scalise as whip, McCarthy as leader, they're both in a strong position to be reelected without challenge."
Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., said, "Kevin has done a tremendous job leading our conference with the messaging, giving us an agenda to run on, really pulling the team together in a way that I haven't seen since I've been in Congress. He has earned the right to be our leader no matter what happens in this election."
Scalise, who serves as House minority whip, is also thought to be safe in his role regardless of what happens in next month's election. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., however, may lose her spot as the House Republican Conference chair because she has spoken out against President Donald Trump.
Cheney said in a statement to Politico, "We need serious competent leadership to address these issues and that means we need a new speaker of the House. I'm focused on working with our members and candidates across the country to win seats so we can prevent the destruction of ongoing Democrat leadership in Congress."
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., has emerged as a potential successor to Cheney due to her strong defense of Trump, Politico noted.
Democrats control the House, 232 seats to 197. There is talk that Democrats could pad their advantage in the chamber in next month's election, and the party also has a chance at taking over the Senate.
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