House GOP campaign arm plans reception "thanking" Kevin McCarthy

Driving the news: The event on the evening of Dec. 13 is to thank McCarthy "for his tireless work in support of the House GOP Conference taking back the House and delivering our Republican Majority," according to an invite to House Republicans obtained by Axios.

• Among the hosts of the event: NRCC Chair Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.).
• A prolific fundraiser, McCarthy criss-crossed the country last year campaigning on behalf of the swing-district Republicans who flipped just enough seats to give House Republicans the majority.

The backdrop: McCarthy privately told donors he is looking to "get the hell out" and his allies say they wouldn't blame him for leaving early following his unceremonious removal as speaker, Axios' Juliegrace Brufke previously reported.

• McCarthy has been publicly noncommittal on his reelection plans, saying at The New York Times DealBook Summit last week: "I have to know that I want to do that. I also have to know if I'm going to walk away, that I'm going to be fine with walking away."
• McCarthy has until Dec. 8, California's filing deadline for U.S. House candidates, to decide whether to run.