By Lauren French | politico.com

Kevin McCarthy has announced his intention to seek his first full term as House majority leader.

The California Republican has served in the No. 2 spot in House GOP leadership since August when former majority leader Eric Cantor resigned the post after losing a primary challenge.

McCarthy wrote to his Republican colleagues late Thursday he would push for approval of the Keystone XL pipeline and an expansion of free trade for the new Congress, which begins in January.

“In the 114th Congress, we will focus on both small issues and large, offering big ideas on the most important issues while continuing to confront the President when necessary,” McCarthy wrote. “Presidential veto threats have never stopped us from pursuing bold and ambitious policies that Americans want, and they will not stop us now.”
Speaker John Boehner said on Thursday House Republicans would also push for a vote to repeal Obamacare, President Barack Obama’s signature legislation. McCarthy similarly pledged to hold the Obama administration accountable in his candidacy letter to House Republicans.

“Going forward, the President has two choices: he can either continue to refuse to compromise, entrench in the positions that Americans so recently rejected, and hold our country back from prosperity and success, or he can listen to the American people, engage with Congress, and work to get something done,” McCarthy wrote.

McCarthy is not expected to face any significant challenge for the post.

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