In a historic move, Kevin McCarthy has been voted out as Speaker of the House, becoming the first Speaker in American history to be formally removed from the position. The vote, which took place on Tuesday, saw eight Republicans join forces with Democrats to force McCarthy out of his role. The decision came after an earlier vote indicated that McCarthy's time as Speaker was coming to an end.
Following the vote, McCarthy was officially stripped of his speakership in a tally of 216 to 210. In the meantime, North Carolina Republican Patrick McHenry will serve as the speaker pro tempore until a replacement is elected.[0] One potential candidate for the role is McCarthy himself.
The ousting of McCarthy came as a surprise, with eight members of his own party voting against him.[1] The decision now leaves the Republican Party in search of a new Speaker. It is unclear who the frontrunner for the position is, but it is worth noting that nominees do not have to be current members of Congress.[1] This has led to speculation about the possibility of former President Donald Trump being considered for the role, despite his four criminal indictments.
The vote to remove McCarthy was heavily influenced by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who urged House Democrats to join Republicans in voting against McCarthy.[2] In a letter to his colleagues, Jeffries cited various reasons for supporting McCarthy's removal, including concerns about the chamber's rules, McCarthy's legislative practices, and the decision to launch an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden.[3]
Although McCarthy needed Democratic support to retain his position, Democrats ultimately decided to vote against him.[3] Jeffries pointed to the chaotic process that led to McCarthy's election as Speaker in January, where McCarthy made concessions to far-right Republicans.[2] This decision to appease extremists within his party ultimately led to his downfall.
The motion to vacate McCarthy's position was filed by Republican Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida.[4] Gaetz, who has been critical of McCarthy's leadership, cited concerns about spending and budget fights as reasons for his motion. However, Gaetz has not put forward any suggestions for who should replace McCarthy as Speaker.
Following the vote, Patrick McHenry, a top ally of McCarthy, was named interim speaker.[5] The House is expected to be in recess for the rest of the week, with a speaker candidate forum planned for October 10th and a vote for a permanent speaker on October 11th.[6]
The vote to remove McCarthy from the speakership was a close one, with a tally of 216 to 210. Eight Republicans voted in favor of his removal, including Gaetz, Eli Crane, and Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ken Buck of Colorado, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Bob Good of Virginia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, and Matt Rosendale of Montana.[7]
Jeffries emphasized the need for GOP members to end the “House Republican Civil War” and break away from “MAGA extremism.” He stated that House Democratic leadership would vote in favor of the motion to vacate the chair.
The uncertainty surrounding McCarthy's removal has led to speculation about what happens next. Gaetz, who initiated the motion, has no clear plan for who should replace McCarthy. It remains to be seen whether McCarthy will be able to sway Republicans to support him and retain his position.
The drama surrounding McCarthy's potential removal reflects the challenges he faces as Speaker. Even if he survives this vote, the failed challenge weakens his position going forward.[8] McCarthy's attempts to appease radical members of his party have undermined his leadership, leading to this critical moment.
The outcome of the vote will ultimately depend on a simple majority. If a majority of House members want to remove McCarthy, they have the opportunity to do so.[9] However, as of now, the votes may not be there to oust him. McCarthy will need to rely on a handful of Republicans to change their minds and support him.
Democrats have made it clear that they will vote as a bloc against McCarthy. Power sharing has been suggested as a potential solution, with the Congressional Progressive Caucus proposing a power-sharing agreement.[0] However, the details of such an agreement would need to be negotiated, and it would require a significant concession from McCarthy.[0]
The removal of McCarthy as Speaker of the House marks a historic moment in American politics. It remains to be seen who will ultimately replace him and how this change in leadership will impact the future of the House.
0. “Kevin McCarthy House speaker vote: Matt Gaetz's determined efforts to oust the GOP leader paid off. But what's next?” Slate, 3 Oct. 2023, https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/10/kevin-mccarthy-house-speaker-vote-matt-gaetz-live-blog.html
1. “Right Wingers Push for Alleged Felon to Become New House Speaker” Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2023, https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-floated-house-speaker-republicans-1234838871
2. “Why House Democrats Refused to Save McCarthy” TIME, 3 Oct. 2023, https://time.com/6320202/house-democrats-refused-save-kevin-mccarthy/
3. “Kevin McCarthy has been ousted as House speaker. Who could replace him?” Vox.com, 3 Oct. 2023, https://www.vox.com/politics/2023/10/3/23901751/kevin-mccarthy-house-speaker-vote-jeffries
4. “Republicans Are Freaking Out Immediately After Ousting Kevin McCarthy” The New Republic, 3 Oct. 2023, https://newrepublic.com/post/175961/republicans-reaction-chaos-oust-kevin-mccarthy-vote
5. “McCarthy expected to tell House Republicans he will not run for speaker again” KTVZ, 3 Oct. 2023, https://ktvz.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2023/10/03/house-braces-for-key-vote-in-push-for-mccarthys-ouster/
6. “Who will be the next Speaker of the House? House of Representatives oust Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy after …” WPVI-TV, 3 Oct. 2023, https://6abc.com/rep-matt-gaetz-speaker-kevin-mccarthy-house-vote-today-to-oust/13858506/
7. “Kevin McCarthy removed as House speaker in historic vote” CBS News, 4 Oct. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-vote-matt-gaetz-kevin-mccarthy-motion-to-vacate-watch-live-stream-today-2023-10-03
8. “Why McCarthy has reason to worry about Gaetz’s move against him” MSNBC, 3 Oct. 2023, https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/mccarthy-reason-worry-gaetzs-move-rcna118541
9. “US House Removes McCarthy as Speaker of House” Voice of America – VOA News, 3 Oct. 2023, https://www.voanews.com/a/us-house-removes-mccarthy-as-speaker-of-house-/7295434.html
