Rep. Kevin McCarthy Expected to Win Top GOP Leadership Slot: NPR

House Republicans are electing a new set of leaders Wednesday to oversee their transformation from an ideologically diverse majority power to an increasingly conservative minority in the next session of Congress.

House of Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., Defeated in the midterm election last week, flipping control to the Democrats in January. Only two of the current GOP leaders are running for the first time.

Instead, Republicans are jockeying behind the scenes to the GOP members on key committees that will be tasked with defending President Trump against an onslaught of investigations by House Democrats.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., Is the only current leader facing a challenge to keep his job in the minority. He announced in a letter circulated on election night among GOP members. In the letter, McCarthy is arguing that it is better to lead the Republicans as Democrats try to dismantle their legislative achievements.

"Washington, DC" McCarthy said in his pitch to members, "We need to lay the groundwork to regain the majority so that we can continue working. "I helped build a majority of a deeper hole than this.

McCarthy is running against Jim Jordan's conservative line, R-Ohio, for the top GOP leadership slot. Jordan is the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of roughly 40 House GOP members on the right flank of the conference. They also have the support of the GOP members and those who have been re-elected to vote for leadership positions.

Jordan told House Republicans Tuesday night that he is in the best position to defend Trump against Democrats and their investigations on the issue of the attack on the US Embbady in Benghazi that killed four Americans. He is also a member of the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees, the two permanent committees responsible for the majority of investigations.

"I think we're entering the world," said Jordan. "I think it's going to take an attitude and an attitude about standing up for the truth and fighting."

The job of official party leaders dramatically changes from the majority to the minority. In the majority of the leaders, the moral leader has to keep up the moral part despite having a little power over the day to day operations inside the Capitol.

It is a difficult job under the best circumstances, pitting leaders against anxious members who feel ineffective. And top leaders no longer have the ability to make the most of their leadership and message. The job will be even more complicated next year when Democrats launch investigations into President Trump, his family businesses and his administration.

Leaders will have to manage the strategy for those committee members who will be forced to participate in the investigation – the White House to protect the president.

McCarthy is also expected to win the leadership slot, but it is still more likely to be pushed in the House, according to several countries.

McCarthy focused much of his attention during the 2018 campaign on raising money for GOP-held seats in California that were prime targets for Democrats. He succeeded on the money front, transferring roughly $ 5.7 million to just two weeks in, but failed to keep many of the seats in his home state.

Democrats have won three of the seven seats so far and are on track to pick up at least two more. That leaves McCarthy in a weaker position than the vote.

The other top seats in Republican leadership are uncontested so far. GOP Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., Is widely expected to keep his job. He is well-liked among Republicans and rose to national prominence last year after he was shot and seriously injured at a GOP baseball practice in Virginia. Scalise forged a close bond with his colleagues and President Trump during his recovery and worked hard after Ryan's retirement announcement to raise money and stump for Republican candidates.

Scalable was discussed to meet the challenge of McCarthy for House Speaker.

Wyoming Republican Liz Cheney is also a guest speaker for GOP Conference Chair. The number one leadership position is typically in charge of messaging and acting as a liaison between leadership and rank and file members.

Cheney, is expected to replace Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., Who was re-elected but is stepping away from leadership. Cheney says she wants to go to the market. She is the eldest daughter of the Vice President Dick Cheney, who has held the position of President of the House over 30 years ago.

"We are serving in this House at a hinge point in history," said Cheney in a letter announcing her run. "The next two years will shape the key of our time, and for many years to come.

House Democrats will elect their nominee to serve as Speaker of the House and other top leadership positions for the next session when they officially take over the majority later this month.