BREAKING NEWS: Kevin McCarthy drops out of race for House speaker

Kevin McCarthy drops out of race for House speaker Staff and wire reports Octoberý ý8ý, ý2015 WASHINGTON — In a stunning move, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy has withdrawn his candidacy for House speaker. GOP lawmakers said McCarthy told colleagues at the start of the conference Thursday that he was not the right person for the job. He recommended that the election be postponed, and Speaker John Boehner delayed it. “As I have said previously, I will serve as speaker until the House votes to elect a new speaker,” Boehner told reporters. Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan quickly diffused speculation that he might jump into the race for the role. “Kevin McCarthy is the best person to lead the House, and so I’m disappointed in this decision,” Ryan said in a statement. “Now it is important that we, as a conference, take time to deliberate and seek new candidates for the speakership. While I am grateful for the encouragement I’ve received, I will not be a candidate. I continue to believe I can best serve the country and this conference as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.” Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who launched his own bid for House speaker earlier this week, said he was shocked by McCarthy’s decision. “I was absolutely stunned,” Chaffetz said. “Didn’t see that coming.” Chaffetz said that he’s “still running” but added that he isn’t sure he’s the right person for the role. Rep. Charlie Dent suggested “a bipartisan coalition” may be necessary to find the next House speaker. “We have to assemble a bipartisan coalition, that’s the reality of this place,” Dent told CNN moments after McCarthy stepped aside. “The question now is: Who’s gonna step up and try to grab the brass ring?” At the White House, press secretary Josh Earnest said the Obama administration "did not get a heads-up” about McCarthy’s announcement. On Capitol Hill, McCarthy spoke briefly to reporters, vowing he would “stay on as majority leader.”