In a historic and unprecedented vote, former US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was impeached, marking the end of his political journey. The turmoil ensued as a group of hard-right conservatives orchestrated his removal, plunging the House and the Republican leadership into disarray.
Despite McCarthy’s repeated claims of never giving up, he found himself with limited options and decided not to run again for the position of speaker, leaving the leadership of the House Republican majority uncertain. The House’s legislative proceedings came to a halt, and the next step will be the Republicans’ attempt to elect a new speaker, scheduled for the following week.
Speaking at a press conference in the Capitol, McCarthy expressed gratitude for his tenure while also settling scores with those responsible for his removal. He remained steadfast in his decisions, stating, “I may have lost this vote today, but as I walk out of this chamber, I feel fortunate to have served. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, McCarthy’s chief rival, initiated the unusual vote on the “motion to vacate,” leading to a dramatic roll call that resulted in McCarthy’s removal from office. Although McCarthy had the support of most Republicans in his slim majority, eight hard-right Republican detractors effectively pushed him out.
The House then recessed to allow lawmakers to privately discuss the path forward, reflecting on the stunning turn of events. McCarthy’s downfall can be traced back to his decision earlier in the year to make concessions to hard-right holdouts, including a rules change that allowed any single lawmaker to file the motion to vacate.
The vote to table Gaetz’s motion failed, setting the stage for a floor debate rarely seen in modern times, during which Republicans openly debated their differences for over an hour. The debate revolved around McCarthy’s truthfulness and his ability to fulfill promises.
While some Republicans criticized the move as potentially destabilizing the House Republican majority, Gaetz defended his stance, stating, “Chaos is Speaker McCarthy.”
As the debate continued, McCarthy’s supporters praised his integrity and commitment to his promises. However, McCarthy’s fate was sealed, as both hard-right conservatives and Democrats opposed his approach to issues such as the debt deal with President Joe Biden and the vote to prevent a government shutdown.
Despite some calls for cooperation, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries announced that Democrats would vote to oust McCarthy, leaving it up to GOP members to resolve the House Republican Civil War.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed hope for the swift election of a new Speaker and the opportunity for collaboration with the new leadership.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell thanked McCarthy for his service, acknowledging the challenges of the role. Both Republicans and Democrats held private meetings at the Capitol ahead of this historic vote.