In an unprecedented move, Kevin McCarthy, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, has been toppled in a right-wing revolt, marking the first time in history that a House Speaker has lost a no-confidence vote. The final vote tally was 216-210, resulting in McCarthy’s removal as leader of the Republican majority in the lower chamber of Congress.
The revolt within his party was triggered by McCarthy’s decision to strike a deal with Senate Democrats to fund government agencies. Hardline conservatives within the Republican Party voted against him, accusing him of making a secret deal with the White House to continue funding for Ukraine while negotiations were ongoing to avert a partial government shutdown.
Florida Republican Matt Gaetz, an ally of former President Donald Trump, initiated the ousting of McCarthy by filing a rarely used procedural tool known as a motion to vacate. Gaetz alleged that McCarthy had made a covert agreement with the White House, a charge McCarthy vehemently denied.
Following the no-confidence vote, McCarthy announced during a private meeting of Republican politicians that he did not intend to run for Speaker again. He criticized Gaetz for personal attacks and fundraising emails sent during the infighting, describing them as “not becoming of a member of Congress.”
The hardline conservatives who voted against McCarthy are not viewed as conservatives by him, according to McCarthy. He only assumed the role of Speaker in January, following a contentious selection process during which right-wing Republicans, including Gaetz, withheld their support. To secure their backing, McCarthy agreed to allow a single member to initiate a motion to oust him, which Gaetz subsequently did.
McCarthy was backed by 210 Republicans, with eight members voting against him, including Gaetz and other conservative Republicans. One surprise vote against McCarthy came from Nancy Mace, a moderate Republican from South Carolina, who emphasized the importance of truth and honesty in the Speaker’s role.
Despite McCarthy’s recent efforts to help the government avoid a federal shutdown, Democrats viewed him as untrustworthy due to past reversals on spending deals and his shifting stance on Donald Trump’s role in the Capitol riot.
The Speaker’s office is now vacant, with no clear successor to oversee the House Republican majority. Congress has just over 40 days to reach an agreement to avoid a potential government shutdown.
Interim Speaker Patrick McHenry has put the House in recess for a week. A vote on a new Speaker is planned for October 11, with Louisiana Republican Steve Scalise and Minnesota Republican Tom Emmer mentioned as potential replacements for McCarthy. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed hope that the House would swiftly elect a new Speaker, emphasizing that the challenges facing the nation would not wait.