Labrador: ‘I’m going to win’

Rep. Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho) said he’s going to win the bid for House majority leader because a lot of lawmakers are switching their votes. 

“I am going to win,” Labrador said frankly in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Friday.

{mosads}”You know, I’m already getting a lot of calls from people who are telling me that they’re switching their vote, that they’re excited about having a choice in this race, and that they want a different direction for the conference. They want more conservative leadership in the House.”

Earlier Friday, Labrador challenged Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in the race to replace Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who stepped down this week after a shocking primary loss. While McCarthy is the favored candidate and has built a strong alliance of support among House GOP leaders, the second-term congressman remained confident.

When asked if he could lead the House and work with his challenger if elected, Labrador replied, “Absolutely.” 

“I have been a critic of leadership, and I think we need to go in a new direction,” he said, adding that 90% of House members feel like they’re not relevant. “They think that it’s all a top-down approach in the House of Representatives, and that they’re not really relevant, because what they want to do, the bills that they want to pass, and the things that they want to do, are not even being heard in the committees. And that’s what I want to do.”

The House Republican leadership election will be held June 19.