FILE - In this July 24, 2018 file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., attends a news conference following a GOP caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington. As Ryan bows out of Congress, he leaves no obvious heir apparent. House Republicans are scrambling to salvage their majority but also confronting a potentially messy GOP leadership battle regardless of which party controls the chamber after the November election. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

GOP fight over leadership after November vote to be messy

October 22, 2018 - 1:16 am

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Win or lose in the race for the majority, House Republicans are at risk of plunging into a messy leadership battle after the November election, with the party lacking a clear heir apparent to take the place of House Speaker Paul Ryan.

President Donald Trump has signaled he'd be happy with next-in-line Kevin McCarthy, the majority leader, a longtime ally whom the president calls "My Kevin." But Trump is also saying kind words about the No. 3 Republican, GOP Whip Steve Scalise, whom he calls the "legend from Louisiana." Scalise survived life-threatening injuries after he was shot at a congressional baseball practice in 2017.

And there's a third lawmaker in the mix: conservative Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, who is waging a longshot bid to take the gavel.

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