House Republicans Choose Their Leader

The race for House minority leader was Kevin McCarthy's to lose on Wednesday, and lose it he did not. Politico reports the Republican successfully fended off a challenge from conservative Freedom Caucus member Rep. Jim Jordan, with Republican sources saying the final count was 159 to 43. The remainder of their leadership team for the 116th Congress is no shocker, in Politico's view: Rep. Steve Scalise will serve as minority whip, and Rep. Liz Cheney as the Republican Conference chairwoman. The AP reports Mitch McConnell will once again be Senate majority leader, with Chuck Schumer leading the Democrats. As for House Dems, the vote has been pushed until after Thanksgiving. (Read more on today's party elections here.)