Cantor Announces Rep. McCarthy as Deputy Whip

House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) formally named Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R) Republicans’ Chief Deputy Whip, making the California lawmaker Cantor’s right-hand man in the House.

“I look forward to focusing on rebuilding our party and working towards innovative solutions to help the middle class taxpayers of America,” Cantor said in a statement. “I look forward to working with Kevin and the entire Republican Conference to serve as the check and balance to the power of Speaker Pelosi and President-Elect Obama and to work with the majority to move America forward.”

“Being entrusted by my friend Republican Whip Eric Cantor to serve in the House Republican Leadership as Chief Deputy Republican Whip is an enormous honor,” McCarthy said, touting his work building the GOP’s “young guns” program promoting younger members of the Republican conference.

“We will be part of the solution to turn the page toward a new era of Republican leadership,” McCarthy added.

–Michael O’Brien