<P> Traditionally , the Speaker is reckoned as the leader of the majority party in the House , with the Majority Leader as second - in - command . For instance , when the Republicans gained the majority in the House after the 2010 elections , Eric Cantor succeeded Boehner as Majority Leader . Despite this , Cantor and his successor , Kevin McCarthy , have been reckoned as the second - ranking Republicans in the House , since Boehner is still reckoned as the leader of the House Republicans . However , there have been some exceptions . The most recent exception to this rule came when Majority Leader Tom DeLay generally overshadowed Speaker Dennis Hastert from 2003 to 2006 . In contrast , the Minority Leader is the undisputed leader of the minority party . </P>
<P> Traditionally , the Speaker is reckoned as the leader of the majority party in the House , with the Majority Leader as second - in - command . For instance , when the Republicans gained the majority in the House after the 2010 elections , Eric Cantor succeeded Boehner as Majority Leader . Despite this , Cantor and his successor , Kevin McCarthy , have been reckoned as the second - ranking Republicans in the House , since Boehner is still reckoned as the leader of the House Republicans . However , there have been some exceptions . The most recent exception to this rule came when Majority Leader Tom DeLay generally overshadowed Speaker Dennis Hastert from 2003 to 2006 . In contrast , the Minority Leader is the undisputed leader of the minority party . </P>
who is the second ranking leader in the house
who is the second ranking leader in the house
Kevin McCarthy
Kevin McCarthy