WASHINGTON (Reuters) – House of Representatives Republicans on Thursday chose Kevin McCarthy of California as the chamber’s next majority leader, a Republican aide announced.

McCarthy, currently the party’s No. 3 leader in the House, defeated Representative Raul Labrador in the secret ballot contest to succeed Eric Cantor as the No. 2 House Republican.

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Cantor is stepping down as majority leader July 31 after his surprise loss to a Tea Party movement challenger in a Virginia primary election last week.

(Reporting by Susan Cornwell; Editing by Bill Trott)