McCarthy Ousted As US House Speaker: Replacement To Inherit A Poisoned Chalice

 

The House has voted to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy, marking the first time in history that a House speaker has been removed in this way. The final vote was 216–210, with eight Republicans joining all the Democrats to vote to remove McCarthy. 

“Speaker McCarthy has failed to take a stand where it matters,” far-right Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, who launched the effort to remove McCarthy, said in a social media post before the vote. “So if he won’t, I will.”

Tuesday’s decision puts a halt to all business in the House of Representatives until the House, which enjoys a narrow Republican majority, elects a new speaker.

Over the weekend, McCarthy knew he might have to do something he had avoided for months if he wanted to avert a government shutdown.

He worked with House Democrats to pass a stopgap spending bill, known as a continuing resolution, to extend government funding through November 17.

The former House Speaker’s move was an act of defiance against the hardliners, with some even threatening to force a vote to overthrow him.