McCarthy: Time for GOP to unify

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) called for Republicans to unify on Friday as they decide who should become the next Speaker. 

McCarthy is seen as the favorite to succeed Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who surprised his colleagues by announcing he would leave Congress at the end of October.

{mosads}“Now is the time for our conference to focus on healing and unifying to face the challenges ahead and always do what is best for the American people,” he said in a statement that praised Boehner’s leadership.

Speaking to reporters after Boehner’s announcement, McCarthy wouldn’t answer questions about whether he would run for Speaker.

Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus in recent weeks have held informal talks about a new leadership team with McCarthy at the top.

One conservative lawmaker personally informed McCarthy over the summer recess that the majority leader would have his support if he ran for the top House position.

Should McCarthy become Speaker, it would mark a remarkably fast ascent for a lawmaker who has only been serving in the House since 2007. 

McCarthy jumped into the majority leader job last year after serving as majority whip, following then-Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s (R-Va.) upset primary loss in 2014.