Tea Party Rep. Raúl Labrador running for House Majority Leader

Tea Party Rep. Raúl Labrador running for House Majority Leader
(Image credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Rep. Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho), a Tea Party favorite, officially announced Friday afternoon that he will run for the post of House Majority Leader.

"I was stunned when Eric Cantor lost his primary election earlier this week," Labrador said in his press release. "Eric is a good friend and I have tremendous respect for him. But the message from Tuesday is clear — Americans are looking for a change in the status quo."

House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is widely favored to advance upward to the Majority Leader post when the election is held on June 19. Indeed, two other possible contenders, Reps. Pete Sessions and Jeb Hensarling of Texas, have already opted not to run. But after recent events, one can't exactly make any ironclad statements about Labrador's prospects from the insurgent right.

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