Houston Chronicle

McCarthy ousted

It’s high drama in the U.S. House as hard-right GOP group forces historic first Republican says he won’t run again for speaker, leaving gavel up for grabs

- By Lisa Mascaro and Farnoush Amiri

WASHINGTON — Speaker Kevin McCarthy was voted out of the job Tuesday in an extraordin­ary showdown — a first in U.S. history, forced by a contingent of hard-right conservati­ves and throwing the House and its Republican leadership into chaos.

It’s nearing the end of the political line for McCarthy, who has

said repeatedly that he never gives up, but now has almost no options remaining. Neither the right-flank Republican­s who engineered his ouster nor the Democrats who piled on seem open to negotiatin­g.

McCarthy told lawmakers Tuesday evening he would not run again for speaker, putting the gavel up for grabs. Next steps are highly uncertain as there is no obvious successor to lead the House Republican majority.

McCarthy’s chief rival, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, orchestrat­ed the rare vote on the obscure “motion to vacate,” and pushed ahead swiftly into a dramatic afternoon roll call.

While McCarthy enjoyed support from most Republican­s in

his slim majority, eight Republican detractors — many of the same hard-right holdouts who tried to stop him from becoming speaker in January — essentiall­y forced him out.

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, RN.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 as lawmakers prepared to meet privately and discuss the path forward.

It was a stunning moment for 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.

But in many ways, McCarthy’s ouster was set in motion when, in deal-making with hard-right holdouts at the start of the year, he agreed to a series of demands — including a rules change that allowed any single lawmaker to file the motion to vacate.

As the House fell silent, Gaetz, a top ally of Donald Trump, rose to offer his motion.

Leaders tried to turn it back, but the vote was 218-208, with 11 Republican­s against tabling the motion, a sign of trouble to come.

The House then opened a floor debate, unseen in modern times, and Republican­s argued publicly among themselves for more than an hour.

“It’s a sad day,” Republican Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma said as debate got underway, urging his colleagues not to plunge the House Republican majority “into chaos.”

But Gaetz shot back during the debate, “Chaos is Speaker McCarthy.”

As the fiery debate dragged on, many of the complaints against the speaker revolved around his truthfulne­ss and his ability to keep the promises he has made.

Almost alone, Gaetz led his side of the floor debate, criticizin­g the debt deal McCarthy made with President Joe Biden and the vote to prevent a government shutdown, which conservati­ves opposed as they demanded steeper spending cuts.

But a long line of McCarthy supporters stood up for him, including Rep. Jim Jordan, ROhio, a leader of the conservati­ve Freedom Caucus, who said, “I think he has kept his word.”

Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., waved his cellphone, saying it was “disgusting” that hardright colleagues were fundraisin­g off the move in text messages seeking donations.

McCarthy, of California, insisted he would not cut a deal with Democrats to remain in power — not that he could have relied on their help even if he had asked.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a letter to colleagues that he wants to work with Republican­s, but he was unwilling to provide the votes needed to save McCarthy.

“It is now the responsibi­lity of the GOP members to end the House Republican Civil War,” Jeffries said, announcing the Democratic leadership would vote for the motion to oust the speaker.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden “hopes the House will quickly elect a Speaker.” Once that happens, she said, “he looks forward to working together with them.”

At the Capitol, both Republican­s and Democrats met privately ahead of the historic afternoon vote.

Behind closed doors, McCarthy told fellow Republican­s: Let’s get on with it.

McCarthy invoked Republican Speaker Joseph Cannon, who more than 100 years ago confronted his critics head-on by calling their bluff and setting the vote himself on his ouster. Cannon survived that takedown attempt, which was the first time the House had actually voted to consider removing its speaker. A more recent threat, in 2015, didn’t make it to a vote.

Gaetz was in attendance, but he did not address the room.

Across the way in the Capitol, Democrats lined up for a long discussion and unified around one common point: McCarthy cannot be trusted, several lawmakers in the room said.

“I think it’s safe to say there’s not a lot of goodwill in that room for Kevin McCarthy,” said Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass.

“At the end of the day, the country needs a speaker that can be relied upon,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. “We don’t trust him. Their members don’t trust him. And you need a certain degree of trust to be the speaker.”

Removing the speaker launches the House Republican­s into chaos. Typically, top leaders would be next in line for the job, but Majority Leader Steve Scalise is battling cancer and Majority Whip Tom Emmer, like any potential candidate, may have trouble securing the vote.

It took McCarthy himself 15 rounds in January over multiple days of voting before he secured the support from his colleagues to gain the gavel.

Trump, the former president who is the Republican frontrunne­r in the 2024 race to challenge Biden, complained about the chaos. “Why is it that Republican­s are always fighting among themselves,” he asked on social media.

Asked about McCarthy’s ouster as he exited court in New York, where he is on trial for business fraud, Trump did not respond.

One key McCarthy ally, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who is also close with Trump, took to social media urging support for “our speaker.”

Republican­s left the chamber in a daze, totally uncertain about next steps.

“I honestly don’t know,” said Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz. “This is a total disaster.”

Many had lined up to hug McCarthy, some to shake his hand.

Democrats, who have bristled at McCarthy’s leadership — cajoling them one minute, walking away from deals the next — said they were just holding back, waiting for Republican­s to figure out how to run the House.

Rep, Don Bacon, R-Neb., the leader of a centrist group, said the only option was to leave the eight hardliners behind and try to work across the aisle.

“We’re going to stay with Kevin,” he said. “He told us earlier he’ll never quit.”

 ?? Mark Schiefelbe­in/Associated Press ?? Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., leaves the House floor Tuesday after being removed as speaker. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., was named speaker pro tempore.
Mark Schiefelbe­in/Associated Press Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., leaves the House floor Tuesday after being removed as speaker. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., was named speaker pro tempore.
 ?? Mark Schiefelbe­in/Associated Press ?? Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., speaks to reporters after leaving a meeting Tuesday morning. Gaetz, a leader of the conservati­ves against Kevin McCarthy, forced the vote on the “motion to vacate.”
Mark Schiefelbe­in/Associated Press Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., speaks to reporters after leaving a meeting Tuesday morning. Gaetz, a leader of the conservati­ves against Kevin McCarthy, forced the vote on the “motion to vacate.”

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