WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Republicans on Thursday chose Kevin McCarthy of California as the chamber's next majority leader, a Republican aide announced.
McCarthy, currently the party's No. 3 leader in the House, defeated Representative Raul Labrador in the secret ballot contest to succeed Eric Cantor as the No. 2 House Republican.
Cantor is stepping down as majority leader July 31 after his surprise loss to a Tea Party movement challenger in a Virginia primary election last week. (Reporting by Susan Cornwell; Editing by Bill Trott)
