House Speaker Race May Complicate New Session of US Congress

The 118th session of the U.S. Congress opens Tuesday with all attention focused on whether Congressman Kevin McCarthy of California can secure enough votes from his fellow Republicans to become the speaker of the House of Representatives and second in line to the U.S. presidency. The 57-year-old McCarthy, who for years has sought to lead the 435-member House, is now tantalizingly close to winning the speakership yet not quite assured of securing the 218-vote majority he needs. Republicans won a narrow 222-213 majority in nationwide House congressional elections in November and will take control of the chamber from Democrats andmore