Slightly more than a week after a little-known economics professor defeated House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, House Republicans are gathering Thursday to choose his replacement. They will also likely be electing a new majority whip as well. Here’s a look at the contests:

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    The second-highest ranking officer in the House (below the Speaker), the majority leader handles the floor schedule and oversees the business of the House and its committees, so he or she can have significant influence over the direction of the chamber. Here are the two people to watch in this race.

    Kevin McCarthy 

    Kevin McCarthy
    European Pressphoto Agency

    Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.), the current House majority whip, has quickly become the odds-on favorite to pick up Mr. Cantor’s mantle. He faces just one long-shot opponent. But beyond Mr. McCarthy’s rapid ascent through the House’s leadership ranks, most Americans know little about the man likely to become their next House majority leader. Mr. McCarthy, a fourth-term representative from California’s 23rd district, is perhaps best known in the House for his ability to build social relationships with other members of his conference. He is perhaps best known for his partnership with Mr. Cantor and Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) on a recruiting program called “Young Guns.” Mr. McCarthy’s effort resulted in the Republican takeover of the House that year, and led to his own election as Majority Whip.

    Raul Labrador

    Rep. Raul Labrador, left.
    Associated Press

    Conservatives have concentrated their energy behind Idaho GOP Rep. Raul Labrador, a former immigration lawyer elected to the House in the tea party wave of 2010. The Puerto Rican-born Mr. Labrador was one of four House Republicans to work with an equal number of Democrats last year in an attempt to draft an immigration bill that fell apart when Mr. Labrador left the group. One of the most fiscally conservative lawmakers, Mr. Labrador is running for majority whip as a challenge to the current slate of leaders. “If you vote for the status quo tomorrow, you will prove that we are still not listening,” he told Republicans on Wednesday.

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    If Mr. McCarthy were to move up, his current job of whip, which rounds up members and counts heads during close votes, would become open. While House Republicans often are unified on votes, the whip job can be difficult when the conference threatens to fracture, as it did on controversial votes such as raising the debt ceiling. Here are some possible successors:

    Peter Roskam

    Rep. Peter Roskam (R., Ill.)
    Associated Press

    Well-connected within current GOP leadership, the Illinois Republican and his staff have been preparing for a leadership fight for some time, prompting Mr. Roskam to already start angling for the House Majority Whip position through listening sessions and outreach to fellow Republicans. But like Mr. McCarthy of California, the Illinois Republican stands at a disadvantage hailing from a state that leans Democratic at a time when the party’s right wing wants an expanded role among leadership.

    Steve Scalise

    Rep. Steve Scalise

    Mr. Scalise, from Louisiana, is the current Republican Study Committee chairman and has used his post leading the group of the House’s most conservative lawmakers to try to push the GOP conference to the right on policy issues including fighting the Affordable Care Act and encouraging offshore drilling. If Mr. McCarthy vacates the post of whip, Mr. Scalise will vie to replace him, according to GOP aides.

    Marlin Stutzman

    Marlin Stutzman
    Associated Press

    The House GOP’s class of 2010 has made a number of waves since coming to Capitol Hill, and Indiana Rep. Stutzman has been an active participant. A soybean farmer and staunch conservative, Mr. Stutzman was a leading voice in GOP circles calling for lawmakers to separate food stamps and other nutrition programs from their place in the Farm bill. He also made headlines during last year’s government shutdown when he was quoted saying of Republicans “we have to get something out of this,” but that “I don’t even know what that even is.”



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