Rep. Kevin Brady, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said Friday that he is backing House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to be the next House speaker after Paul Ryan retires from office.
Brady, R-Texas, told radio host Hugh Hewitt that he believes McCarthy, R-Calif., will ultimately replace Ryan, R-Wis., atop leadership, but cautioned that the caucus is not “distracted” by a possible speaker’s race. Republicans are pushing to retain their 23-seat House majority in November.
“I am,” Brady said when asked if he is supporting McCarthy for the post. “I think Kevin has, McCarthy, has done a terrific job throughout this country and throughout our caucus, and he deserves a chance to move into that position. And what I appreciate among our leadership right now is no one is distracted by this potential speaker’s race in November.”
Brady said that while McCarthy’s style differs from Ryan’s, the agenda remains the same for the party.
Ryan also supports McCarthy for the job. However, McCarthy could be in the crosshairs of the House Freedom Caucus as Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, prepares a run for the post.
[Opinion: Jim Jordan can’t win, but Kevin McCarthy can lose the race for speaker of the House]
