McCarthy on choosing the next Speaker: ‘I want it to be me’

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Wednesday touted himself as a possible next Speaker as Republicans push to hold onto control of the House in the November midterm elections.

“I want the next Speaker to come from California, I just don’t want it to be [Democratic leader] Nancy [Pelosi],” McCarthy said during a speech at a conservative event in Washington. “I want it to be me.”

McCarthy, whom retiring Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has endorsed to succeed him as Speaker next year, has been eyeing the position along with Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the current House majority whip, among others.

{mosads}

The California Republican’s comments Wednesday came while speaking at the High School Leadership Summit hosted by the conservative group Turning Point USA, a four-day event featuring conservative figures such as President Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and White House counselor Kellyanne Conway.

McCarthy encouraged students in the audience to participate in the upcoming midterm elections, even if they are unable to vote or do not have the money to donate to campaigns.

“History is against us,” McCarthy said. “Only two times since World War II has the party in power actually picked up seats in an off-presidential year.”

“If we’re successful in this next one, the next century will be ours,” he said.