BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — In June and November, voters in Kern will be faced with a list of options. 17 News sits down with Kern candidates so county voters can make informed decisions.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) sat down with 17 News to talk about his candidacy, including running for GOP leadership in the U.S. House and the party’s platform Republican for the 2022 midterm elections.

We’ll have an in-depth look at McCarthy and the other candidates in the race for the newly drawn 20th congressional district next week. Here’s a preview of the conversation.

The Republican Party platform for the medium term

As the highest-ranking Republican in the House, McCarthy has significant influence over the issues and legislation the party will introduce in November.

In the Senate, some GOP members expressed different approaches to the election. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida), for example, released a detailed 11-point plan for this year’s midterm.

On the other hand, the leader of the Republicans in the Senate, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), mentioned general issues on which he thinks the party should focus, but did not set out a specific legislative program.

McConnell said the GOP should run on a referendum on Democratic policies, rather than on its own proactive agenda.

“I have a disagreement with Mitch McConnell on this, I think the election should be about issues,” McCarthy told 17 News.

McCarthy mentioned some policies he helped the party roll out, including the Parents’ Bill of Rights and a secure border to keep fentanyl out.

“Later this month we will be in Florida for a retreat with all of our members and we are finalizing what we are offering,” he said.

Leading the GOP in the House

As House Minority Leader, McCarthy is tasked with leading the entire GOP in the House — often being required to balance moderate members and those more to the right.

Two House Republicans and outspoken members of the highly conservative Freedom Caucus, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Arizona), were removed from their House committee positions last year. last by Democrats and a handful of Republicans.

Recently, the couple took part in an event organized by white nationalist activist Nicholas Fuentes. McCarthy said their participation was unacceptable, adding that the organization espouses beliefs that have no place in the Republican Party. McCarthy said if selected as chairman in 2023, he will allow Greene and Gosar to “earn” their committee assignments in return.

“There is no place for any member to associate with Nick Fuentes…they said they would never associate with him again,” McCarthy said. “They have the right to be able to earn a right and we will see that at the next Congress if they have earned it”,

McCarthy is scheduled to hold a press conference at the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. PST. It will be broadcast live on its website.