Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was removed as House Speaker in a historic vote Tuesday.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) filed a motion to vacate McCarthy late Monday evening.
“For the first time in U.S. history, the House voted to remove a speaker,” Roll Call stated.
The House of Representatives voted 216-210 to remove McCarthy.
Watch the final moment:
NOW – Kevin McCarthy removed as Speaker of the U.S. House pic.twitter.com/6rfzxHTteT
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) October 3, 2023
Several Republicans joined Democrats to oust McCarthy as House Speaker.
“Republicans voting with Democrats to oust McCarthy were Matt Gaetz of Florida, who offered the motion to vacate the speaker’s office, along with Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ken Buck of Colorado, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Eli Crane of Arizona, Bob Good of Virginia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, and Matt Rosendale of Montana,” Roll Call added.
“I take no lecture on asking patriotic Americans to weigh in and contribute to this fight from those who would grovel and bend knee for the lobbyists and special interests who own our leadership,” Gaetz said.
WATCH:
BREAKING: Republican Representative Kevin McCarthy has been removed as House Speaker.
Here is Matt Gaetz blasting members of Congress for being owned by “lobbyists and special interests” right before McCarthy was ousted.
“I take no lecture on asking patriotic Americans to weigh… pic.twitter.com/bk1jzGCEOR
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 3, 2023
“McCarthy agreed to rules when he was voted in as Speaker that he is not following. Now he gets punished, simple as that. If Gaetz and others don’t hold him accountable, KM will continue to steamroll Republican voters with Uniparty concessions. Yes, I’d prefer to continue investigating the Biden crime family and fight as a unified front against the Democrats, but at a certain point, we have to put our foot down and say ‘enough is enough,'” DC Draino commented.
Vacating McCarthy – My analysis:
I stand with Rep @mattgaetz
McCarthy agreed to rules when he was voted in as Speaker that he is not following
Now he gets punished, simple as that
If Gaetz and others don’t hold him accountable, KM will continue to steamroll Republican voters…
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) October 3, 2023
Roll Call reports:
The chamber, with a government shutdown deadline looming again in mid-November, now must elect a new speaker. Generally, that is the job of the majority party — but with the Republican conference splintered, it could take time for another member among their ranks to garner the votes required to secure the gavel.
Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, R-N.C., was named speaker pro tempore immediately after the vote, and called for a recess for members to discuss the matter.
“The House will be paralyzed. We can expect week after week of fruitless [speaker] ballots while no other business can be conducted. The Democrats will revel in Republican dysfunction and the public will rightly be repulsed,” Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said before the final vote on McCarthy’s fate. “It will end when the Democrats are able to enlist a rump caucus of Republicans to join a coalition to end the impasse.”
Though McClintock predicted “this House will shift dramatically to the left,” other members interviewed this week said they did not yet see a solution — or a likely 56th speaker of the House.
The House chamber was tense during the first vote series of the day, then during an hour of debate on McCarthy’s fate as critics and so-called “friends of Kevin” rose to say why he should be ousted or keep the job he long has coveted.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) said she has the following conditions for the future House Speaker.
BREAKING REPORT: Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has some conditions for the next House Speaker..
Do you AGREE? pic.twitter.com/d8h3elKa9v
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) October 3, 2023
The Associated Press added:
Next steps are uncertain, but there is no obvious successor to lead the House Republican majority.
Stillness fell as the presiding officer gaveled the vote closed, 216-210, saying the office of the speaker “is hereby declared vacant.”
Moments later, a top McCarthy ally, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., took the gavel and, according to House rules, was named speaker pro tempore, to serve in the office until a new speaker is chosen.
The House then briskly recessed so lawmakers could meet and discuss the path forward.
It was a stunning moment for the battle-tested McCarthy, a punishment fueled by growing grievances but sparked by his weekend decision to work with Democrats to keep the federal government open rather than risk a shutdown.
WATCH: