Hoyer: Leadership race will determine how far right GOP goes

The race to replace Eric Cantor (R-Va.) for Majority Leader will determine how far right the Republican Party wants to go, House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Thursday. 

“We’ll see who replaces Mr. Cantor now that he’s stepped down, and there will be some indication of whether they’re going to stay far right or go even further right,” Hoyer said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

{mosads}After losing his primary election to underfunded challenger Dave Brat, Cantor announced he would step down from his leadership position at the end of July. 

A number of lawmakers have lined up to replace Cantor — including House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) and House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (Texas). Rep. Jeb Hensarling (Texas) is also seen as a possibility. 

Some conservative voices have come out early against McCarthy, saying he does not have the conservative credentials. 

“I think the election will tell us whether or not we’re going to be able to move forward on issues that the American people overwhelmingly support,” Hoyer said, while not indicating who Democrats would find most palatable. 

In a separate interview, Hoyer said Cantor’s loss does not necessarily spell the end of immigration reform and a number of other proposals this year. 

“I don’t think any one person, myself, Mr. Cantor or others will be the determination on that,” Hoyer said on CNBC. “But we will see whether the Republican Party can move forward and reflect what the majority of the American people think ought to be the agenda of the Congress.”