McCARTHY IN – AT 8:58 A.M. ET:  Kevin McCarthy of California has been elected the new House majority leader, replacing Eric Cantor, who was stunningly defeated in a primary election for his House seat.  From Fox: 

WASHINGTON – In a GOP leadership shuffle, Republican lawmakers voted Thursday for California Rep. Kevin McCarthy to succeed Rep. Eric Cantor as House majority leader after Cantor's unexpected primary defeat last week.

McCarthy, a fourth-term lawmaker who had held the No. 3 GOP position, was elected by secret ballot.

"America is struggling," he said after the vote. "We're struggling with a stagnant economy, a failed health care law, and so many are living paycheck to paycheck. They are looking for individuals that put people before politics. I make one promise: I will work every single day to make sure this conference has the courage to lead with the wisdom to listen."

The day's second election, to succeed McCarthy as party whip, was a much tighter three-way competition among Reps. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, Peter Roskam of Illinois and Marlin Stutzman of Indiana. Scalise, 48, scored the victory.

Scalise, who won his seat in a special election in 2008, campaigned as head of the Republican Study Conference, a group of that sometimes serves as a conservative thorn in the side of leadership.

"I'm looking forward to bringing a fresh new voice to our leadership table and joining with this team to help confront the challenges that people all across this country are facing," he said at a press conference following the vote. "We've got solid conservative solutions that are going to solve the problems facing our country."

McCarthy and Scalise will govern for only 12 legislative days between when Cantor officially calls it quits on July 31 and November’s midterm elections.

COMMENT:  McCarthy was actually Cantor's choice to succeed him, so the GOP establishment is still firmly in charge, and it won in a free election. 

Republicans are expected easily to retain control of the House in the November election.  It's the Senate we focus on.  My fear, based on current conditions, is that the GOP will fall short and that Obama, even with narrow Senate control, will run wild during his last two years in office.

June 20,  2014