WASHINGTON, D.C. -- House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy's astonishing decision to abandon his campaign to become speaker has left Republicans staring at turmoil and uncertainty.
GOP lawmakers are meeting Friday to discuss their next move.
On Thursday, Republicans at a closed-door meeting where they seemed ready to coronate the Californian as their candidate for speaker were aghast when McCarthy rose and told them he wouldn't seek the job.
McCarthy's announcement leaves the race to succeed departing Speaker John Boehner wide open. The Ohio Republican delivered his own shocker on Sept. 25 when he said he would retire from Congress at the end of October.
Boehner said he would remain in his job until a new speaker was installed. That election had been set for Oct. 29, but now the date is uncertain.
