Rep. Jason Chaffetz launches bid for House speaker, shaking up GOP leadership race

The Republican chairman of a high-profile House committee on Sunday shook up the race to succeed outgoing Speaker John A. Boehner, launching a challenge to the heavy favorite, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. The bid by Rep. Jason Chaffetz (Utah), chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, comes amid unrest from conservatives driven by doubts that McCarthy (Calif.) will be any more inclined than Boehner to embrace the right flank of the House Republican Conference. Chaffetz said on "Fox News Sunday" that he was “recruited” by members displeased with McCarthy’s ascent and that he would “bridge the divide” in the House GOP.